OCT.] THE ORCHARD. 519 



Dressing the Strawberry Beds^ and making new Plantations. 



The old beds of strawberries should some time in this month, 

 have their winter dressing ; in doing of which, they should be 

 cleaned from weeds, and the vines or runners taken off close to the 

 plants ; then if there be room between the plants, by having been 

 kept to distinct heads, or single bunches, which is certainly the most 

 preferable method, loosen the earth to a moderate depth with a 

 small s/ade, or hoe, observing not to disturb the roots. And if the 

 plants are in beds with alleys between, line out the alleys and let 

 them be dug a moderate depth, breaking the earth very fine and 

 spreading a sufficiency of it over the beds, between and round the 

 roots of the plants, being careful not to bury their tops. A slight 

 top dressing of well rotted dung, may sometimes be necessary. 

 This dressing will prove very beneficial, and promote strength and 

 a plentiful crop the ensuing season. 



When it was omitted last month, new plantations of strawberries 

 may now be made, but the earlier in the month the better, that 

 the plants may have time to establish new roots before winter. 

 For full instructions on that head, see page 476. 



Preserving- Stones and Kernels of Fruits. 



Preserve in damp earth or sand, the stones of the various kinds 

 of fruit you intend to sow for stocks, Sec. and let apple, pear, and 

 quince kernels, be preserved in dry sand, till you wish to sow them. 

 Observe not to place them in the way of mice, rats, or squirrels, 

 which would immediately destroy them ; and when sown, every 

 precaution must be taken to preserve them from these animals. 



THE ORCHARD. 



WINTER pears and apples should, generally, be gathered 

 this month ; some will be fit for pulling in the early part, others 

 not before the middle or latter end thereof. 



To know when the fruits have had their full growth, you should 

 try several of them in different parts of the trees, by turning them 

 gently one way or the other ; if they quit the tree easily, it is a 

 sign of maturity and time to gather them. 



But none of the more delicate eating pears, should be suffered 

 to remain on the trees till overtaken by frost, for if they are once 

 touched with it, it will occasion many of them to rot in a very 

 short time. Indeed it would be needless, even wrong, to suffer 



