SECT. xir. OF PRDNIN&. 



not be shortened, except with a view to throw out 

 wood. Keep the root free from suckers, and the 

 steal from shoots in its lower part, and prune out 

 weak, luxuriant, straggling, and crossing branches, 

 forming it to a somewhat round head, which keep 

 moderately open. Let the stem be freed from lower 

 branches to the height of three, four or five feetj ac- 

 cording as the shrub may be desired to approach to- 

 wards a tree. See page 80. 



STRAWBERRIES require pruning off the runners 

 during summer, which strengthens the plants, keeps 

 the soil from being exhausted, and gives all a neat 

 air of culture. This work should be particularly 

 followed up in edgings of strawberries, that they may 

 not run over the walks : If plants, however, are 

 wanted for new beds, they must be suffered to run 

 a little. See pages 39, 80. 



The dressing of strawberries consists not only of 

 pruning from runners ; but cutting down the great 

 leaves in autumn (early) with a scythe ; or, which is 

 better, by taking them up in the hand, and using a 

 knife. At this time they must be weeded, and the 

 ground stirred between them, deep enough to cut the 

 ends of the roots a little. Then there should be 

 spread over the beds a little rotten dung, or good 

 fresh earth, and all afterwards kept free from weeds. 

 Let the surface of the ground be stirred again irt 

 spring, and any hollows that may be between the 

 plants filled up with earth, and a little dung amongst 

 it, if none was applied in autumn. Thus with good 

 management the delicious strawberry will be had in 

 abundance and perfection, the season not being un- 

 propitious. 



FLOWERING SHRUBS are of great variety, and the 

 method of pruning them is to be determined accord- 



