MISCELLANEOUS HINTS 59 



either uncover the roots and cut two or three of 

 those that He deepest and are of the coarsest de- 

 scription right off a short distance from the base of 

 the trunk, or merely Hft the roots, branch by branch, 

 from their places and relay them in fresh loamy 

 soil a few inches nearer the surface. 



Gooseberries and currants require very careful 

 pruning. Gooseberries and black currants produce 

 the most fruit on the strong young wood of the 

 previous season ; and when these shoots are vigorous 

 and well ripened, they bear along almost their en- 

 tire length, while the red and white currants fruit 

 chiefly on spurs on the old wood. 



The proper method of pruning the two former 

 is to leave the strongest and best matured shoots 

 of the previous season untouched, or, at most, short- 

 ened back to sound wood, cutting out only the 

 weaker growths altogether. 



Red and white currants ought, on the contrary, 

 to be confined to a certain moderate number of 

 leading branches, and the laterals be cut back an- 

 nually, to within two or three buds or eyes of their 

 bases. 



PEAR TREES, TO KEEP BIRDS OFF 



Syringe the trees with a mixture of soot, lime, 

 and soft soap. Mix up a tubful of soap and water, 

 and then place in as much fresh lime and soot as 

 will pass through a coarse syringe, and well dress 

 the trees with it. But the best plan of all is to 

 place netting on the trees, which is best done 

 every year soon after Christmas, as the birds begin 

 to peck out the buds very soon after this. Half- 



