SEPTEMBER. 



692 



SEPTEMBER. 



year's use, nailing all in close and regular 

 to the wall at their natural length, so that 

 all branches laid in in former months are 

 firm in their places, and all gross shoots 

 stopped. 



Budding, Inarching, &*c. All kinds of 

 fruit-trees may now be budded ; branches 

 may also be added where required, by 

 approach grafting or inarching ; trees of 

 healthy growth, but bearing indifferent 

 fruit, may now become the stocks for a 

 fruit of superior quality by the processes 

 1 ready described. All lateral shoots of 

 wall trees and espaliers should be cut 

 pretty closely in, there being no danger 

 now of their breaking. 



Cherries. With the cherry little or no 

 shortening back is necessary, pruning 

 being confined to thinning away cross and 

 interior shoots on standard trees, and 

 spurring back those shoots which are too 

 close together. 



Currants. Prune away all side spray in 

 currants, and treat generally as directed for 

 gooseberries. 



Gooseberries. Thin out all overloaded 

 bushes, stop and thin out all shoots, and 

 mat over where necessary, to retard ripen- 

 ing. Look over the bushes for caterpillars, 

 and destroy by every possible means. Many 

 expedients are recommended for the de- 

 struction of these pests. Hellebore 

 powder, digitalis, and unslaked lime have 

 ben tried ; and a layer of tanner's bark 

 laid on the ground in the autumn is said 

 to have had the effect of keeping away 

 insects. 



Insects, &c., Preservation of fruit from. 

 As the fruit begins to ripen, the attacks 

 of wasps and snails become very annoying. 

 For the benefit of the former, hang up 

 some phials filled with sugared water or 

 beer. This will attract the wasps from the 

 fruit Snails must be looked for diligently 

 after a shower of rain, and a train of pow- 

 dered lime round the stem will keep them 



off in dry weather. Trees are also subject 

 to attacks of the red spider during dry 

 weather. As preventive as well as cure, 

 wash them with water in which flour of 

 sulphur is held in suspension. At the same 

 time give them a good soaking with water 

 at the roots ; thick mulching will also 

 strengthen the trees to resist this insidious 

 foe. 



Pears. The pear requires more ener- 

 getic treatment than the apple. The young 

 spray requires thinning out towards the 

 end of June, and all watery-looking 

 shoots should then be removed, reserving 

 all of the opposite character for selection 

 in winter. At this time, also, stop all 

 young shoots, except those at the extremi- 

 ties of the branches, by pinching out the 

 terminal bud, and tying down to the rails 

 all such as do not interfere with the fruit 

 spurs, cutting back such as do interfere to 

 two or three eyes. Leave as many leaves 

 as possible round the terminal bud. 



Plums. The plum, in moderately rich 

 soil, has a tendency to produce gross 

 shoots between the stem and the extremity 

 of the branches. These, if they have not 

 been removed, now require the pruner's 

 care ; where they are not wanted let them 

 be cut away, reserving all short-jointed 

 wood and leading shoots necessary to 

 balance the tree. 



Raspberries. Stop the canes of rasp- 

 berries when sufficiently high. 



Strawberries. Alpines are now in full 

 bearing. This is also the season for saving 

 seed, if seedlings are desired for planting. 

 Selecting a few of the finest bearers, let 

 them be fully ripenened, and the seed 

 saved. Take the fruit and rub it on a 

 piece of glass or slate, so that the pulp 

 may dry up ; when the seed may be rubbed 

 off and preserved till the season for sowing 

 in the spring. Runners, the only means 

 by which plants can be obtained true to 

 the sort, should also be encouraged to 



