18 4- M'I?itosh's Practical Gardener. 



siderable depth. In this we perfectly agree with Mr. Gamier, and must 

 observe, that the finest and greatest crops of this fruit that we ever saw were 

 in his garden. It is not generally known, but it is an ascertained fact, that 

 most strawberries generate roots, and sti'ike them into the ground nearly 

 2 ft. deep, in the course of the season. The pine. Grove End, and rose- 

 berry succeed better than any other in stiff and shallow soils, and should be 

 planted in an open situation, and not in one too much shaded. 



" Strawberries require a larger portion of water than almost any other 

 of our cultivated fruits, to bring their crops to perfection. 



" Strawberries may he secured from the attacks of Birds by surrounding the 

 compartment where they are grown with wattled hurdles, made close on 

 purpose, or rendered so by drawing in a few branches in the places at which 

 birds might penetrate ; placing them upright like a fold, and then covering 

 the whole top surface with netting, supported high enough to admit of 

 getting conveniently to gather the fruit. 



" The Fruit of Alpine Strawberries, and probably some of the prolific sorts, 

 may be retarded till late in the season, by going over the plants in May, or 

 when they come into blossom, and carefully cutting off all the bloom with 

 a pair of scissors, preserving the leaves as much from injury as possible. 

 This is repeated until towards the middle of June, when more blossoms 

 appear ; and those are left to produce fruit, which they readily do until 

 destroyed by the autumnal frosts. 



" The Operation of watering before Sunrise, in counteracting the Frost, 

 seems to produce its effects in a manner similar to the application of cold 

 water to a frozen joint or limb, which is injured by the sudden application 

 of warmth. This plan has been long adopted by the London nurserymen, 

 when their plants have been affected by frost during the night, and is 

 attended with the most marked success. Vegetables of any sort may be 

 recovered by this application, and it should be attended to by the gardener 

 both in spring and autumn." 



Keeping Fruit. Mr. M'Intosh approves of sweating kitchen fruit, to get 

 rid of a part of their moisture. The practice " is probably no detriment 

 to the fruit, and must certainly contribute to its keeping." Table fruit " we 

 keep in strong boxes filled with dry sharp sand, in which the fruit is packed 

 and secured in a dry room, and as much excluded from the air as possible. 

 By this means, the better keeping apples and pears will keep till April and 

 May, and some will keep till June. However, it is probable that fruits 

 packed in charcoal, or very dry bog-mould, may keep much longer." 



December. " This may be called the dead time of the year. However, 

 neatness and regularity should ever be before the eyes of the gardener who 

 wishes to excel. In this month, when the weather will permit, all spare 

 ground in the fruit-garden which is not under crop should be trenched, 

 where the roots of the trees will admit of it ; and where not, it should be 

 rough dug. Pruning of every tree should be forwarded with all diligence; 

 and where grounds or borders are in want of renewing, preparatory to being 

 new planted, that work should be gone on with. The clearing of fruit 

 trees of moss and insects, as far as the latter can be effected, should occupy 

 a share of his attention. In the compost-yard much is to be done in turn- 

 ing over compost heaps, and in bringing in fresh matter for forming others; 

 indeed, this is one of the most useful emplo)'ments of the gardener in 

 winter, and one that is more neglected than any other. Wherever alter- 

 ations are going on, on the manor, in the park, or by the sides of turnpike 

 or other roads, the gardener is most likely to find materials which will be 

 either in their natural state highly useful to him for his fruit-tree borders, 

 or by preparations, by adding manure or other materials, to correct the 

 lightness or stiffness of such matter to a proper texture, to be afterwards 

 allowed to prepare for a year, and during that time frequently turned over 

 and well incorporated. Such preparations are of all the most useful for 

 producing fine fruit and healthy trees, and should be oollected in quantities. 



