MAY. 



639 



MAY. 



they should be liberally dredged with the 

 powder, in order to dislodge them, or 

 dressed with Gishurst's Compound, infused 

 in water in the proportion of 2 oz. to the 

 gallon, and applied with a syringe. 



Disbtidding and Stopping. As the 

 health as well as the symmetry of the trees 

 depends in some degree on judicious and 

 timely disbudding and stopping, nothing 

 should interfere with their performance this 

 month, bearing in mind that as peaches, 

 nectarines, and cherries bear their fruit on 

 shoots of last year's growth, new wood, 

 both present and prospective, is absolutely 

 required. If these operations are properly 

 done now, and to a sufficient extent, any 

 extensive use of the knife and saw may be 

 dispensed with. 



Nectarines and Peaches. The directions 

 given for the treatment of apricot - trees 

 apply equally to peaches and nectarines. 



Pruning, Summer. Weak trees will be 

 strengthened, and fruitfulness promoted in 

 vigorous ones, by summer pruning ; and the 

 outward sign of good management is ex- 

 hibited in trees equally balanced both as to 

 their young wood and fruit-bearing branches. 

 Any departure from this equilibrium must 

 be remedied by one or other of the expedi- 

 ents already described. Remove all fore- 

 right and misplaced shoots, unless there is 

 fruit at the base, when they should be 

 stopped, only leaving two or three leaves. 

 Thin the fruit slightly, if crowded. At the 

 end of the month all protection may be 

 abandoned. If insects infest the trees 

 wash with soapsuds from the laundry, or 

 soft soap prepared for the purpose, and 

 syringe with tobacco water ; a little flour of 

 sulphur added is a preventive of mildew. 



Strawberries. Towards the end of the 

 month lay clean straw or fern between the 

 plants to keep the fruit clean and prevent 

 evaporation ; water the plants copiously in 

 dry weather while in flower, and remove all 

 runners not required for propagation. 



Vines on Walls. With regard to the 

 general routine, the treatment of vines orv 

 walls is much the same as that of other 

 trees, as far as the training and pruning 

 goes, and with careful culture it is impos- 

 sible to doubt that fruit of good size and of 

 a delicious flavour may be obtained in the 

 open air, at all events in the southern parts- 

 of England, provided that they are grown 

 against walls that reflect the light and heat t 

 and are properly cultivated and protected. 



Wall Trees, Inspection oj. Towards the 

 middle of the month all wall trees should 

 be carefully inspected. Where it is neces- 

 sary to remove nets or other shelter to 

 accomplish this, they should be kept ready 

 at hand, and in order for being replaced, 

 should any indications of low temperature 

 or spring frosts show themselves. The 

 object is now to search for insects and dis- 

 bud superfluous shoots, especially where the 

 trees are old and walls indifferent. This 

 can only be accomplished by examining 

 them tree by tree and branch by 

 branch. 



Wall Trees, Treatment of. In this- 

 search all decaying branches must be cut 

 back to a healthy bud ; all discoloured and 

 unhealthy leaves and all dead blossoms re- 

 moved ; nails and shreds in the way of 

 young wood loosened and placed in a more 

 accommodating place, and the leaves and 

 branches well syringed with soapy water. 

 Should any appearance of the fly or scale 

 present itself on the leaves, they should be 

 hand-washed and sponged with tobacco- 

 water, or some other composition, and the 

 whole syringed with clean tepid water. 

 This will give even clean and healthy trees 

 a healthier appearance. The fruit, which 

 will now be of some size, thus cleared from 

 all decayed or decaying matter, will have a 

 fresh and healthy appearance. 



Watering. If the ground be very dry, 

 and it is possible to convey water to the 

 spot, it is desirable to give a plentiful 



