AUGUST. 



681 



AUGUST. 



mesh is also used successfully to keep off 

 the attacks of wasps and flies. Strong 

 shoots that have been stopped have now 

 thrown out laterals, which should be 

 thinned to the number required to cover 

 their allotted space, so that the wood may 

 be thoroughly ripened in the August sun. 

 Should mildew appear, dust with flour of 

 sulphur. If attacked by insects, wash the 

 trees with soapsuds, syringing afterwards 

 with clear water. 



Blighted Fruit on Standards. Standard 

 trees, where a regular thinning is not 

 adopted, should be shaken occasionally, to 

 bring down any fruit that may be blighted. 

 These can be no good on the trees, and the 

 sooner got rid of the better. 



Budding Fruit Trees. July and August 

 is generally the time for budding fruit trees ; 

 if any stocks are to be budded with differ- 

 ent or better sorts, it should be done with- 

 out delay. Any peaches, nectarines, or 

 other wall trees that are scanty, or unfur- 

 nished with wood in any part, may be 

 altered considerably by the insertion of a 

 few buds. 



Cherries. As the fruit is gathered from 

 the earlier sorts, remove the nettings, and 

 wash the trees well with the engine. Cover 

 Morello cherries on north walls with nets. 



Currants. Currants near the ground 

 should be gathered first, as the splashing of 

 rain is apt to spoil them. If trees are net- 

 ted or matted over so as to be impervious 

 to birds, flies, &c., fruit on them will keep 

 good till late in the year. Black currants 

 will not keep on the trees, and had better 

 be gathered as soon as ripe. 



Gooseberries. The instructions for cur- 

 rants apply equally to gooseberries, of 

 which some varieties, such as the Red 

 Warrington, may be preserved until No- 

 vember, if protected with mats or netting. 



Raspberries. Towards the latter end of 

 August, raspberries have generally ceased 

 bearing, and the old canes may be cut down, 



as they will be of no further service, and 

 are in the way. Their removal gives the 

 new canes a chance to strengthen and ripen 

 the wood. About four or five canes may 

 be left to each stool. This done, it will be 

 advisable to fork the ground over, to des- 

 troy weeds and give a fresh appearance, 

 besides admitting rain. All borders about 

 fruit trees should receive a forking about 

 this time. Autumn-bearing varieties must 

 not be treated in this way until the fruit 

 has been gathered. 



Snails, Wasps, &c. Keep a sharp look- 

 out over wall trees ; for snails, wasps, and 

 flies are as fond of choice fruit as man him- 

 self. Snails will attack peaches, nectarines, 

 &c., before they are ripe, and spoil the ap- 

 pearance of every fruit they approach 

 Finding out their haunts, and picking them 

 out with the hand, is the best mode of deal- 

 ing with them ; they are then easily des- 

 troyed by throwing them into salt and 

 water. Wasps and flies must be trapped 

 in bottles, containing sugar and beer dregs, 

 hung about the trees in different places ; o* 

 the trees must be covered with suitable net- 

 ting. Apricots, as soon as they happen to 

 crack, are sure to be attacked ; and as this 

 sometimes happens before the fruit is 

 thoroughly ripe, it is always advisable to 

 cover them, even if other fruits are left 

 without protection. 



Strawberries. Beds may be planted ; 

 but it is advisable to get the planting done 

 as soon as possible, if a crop of fruit is 

 expected the following year. Even now it 

 is a good plan to lay the runners in pots, if 

 it can be done ; but, generally, it will be 

 found that strong runners have already 

 rooted by this time, and may be removed 

 with a trowel. Plenty of water is necessary 

 at this time for everything that has been 

 newly planted. If plantations cannot be 

 made now, bed out the plants, so that they 

 may be transplanted during the spring, 

 keeping all the leaves attached to them. 



