Monthly Calendar of Work. 451 



MAY. 



Fruit-trees may be still set out, if dug early and kept from grow- 

 ing in a cool place, even if the leaves are partly expanded, but the 

 shoots should never be cut back after the swelling of the buds. 



Keep the soil clean and mellow about young trees, p. 70. 



Rub all useless shoots from the stocks of young trees in the 

 nursery which have been grafted, or which were budded last sum- 

 mer and headed down. This should be done at the moment of their 

 starting, as removing foliage in large quantities always checks 

 growth. 



Stake up crooked trees, p. 62. 



Mulch young trees when the soil cannot be cultivated constantly, 

 but avoid watering before the leaves expand, p. 63. 



Commence thinning fruit on overbearing trees. 



Give air, warmth, and moisture to vines in houses. 



Kill orchard caterpillars by swabbing with soapsuds or lime-wash. 



Clear out borers from apple-trees, p. 145; and commence the 

 destruction of the curculio, p. 153. 



JUNE. 



Continue the operations of last month wherever necessary and 

 increase cultivation and destroy weeds. 



Make thorough work with the curculio, p. 153. Destroy aphides 

 as soon as they appear by strong soapsuds, p. 147, and the currant 

 worm by dusting with hellebore, p. 156. 



Rub off early in the month all supernumerary shoots on out-door 

 grape-vines, and on young fruit-trees. Thin berries on vines in 

 heated grape-houses, and pinch back laterals on those in cold 

 houses. Keep up a mild, damp atmosphere. 



Examine peach-trees and destroy the peach grub, p. 151. 



Thin out fruit on overbearing trees, p. 107. 



Shorten back new shoots of the blackberry, p. 437. 



Cut off all the parts of plum-trees that show the first indications 

 of black-knot, p. 160. Destroy caterpillars' nests that have escaped 

 attention. Give slugs a dusting of dry lime, or dash them off with 

 dry sand or powdered soil. 



Mulch the surface of the earth around newly transplanted cherry 

 trees. 



JULY. 



Continue cultivation to prevent the growth of weeds and the 

 formation of a crust on the soil. 



Mulch all young trees when cultivation cannot be given. 



Continue thinning fruit, and rubbing off supernumerary shoots on 

 young trees. 



