XXX Instructions for Pruning, Budding, &c. 



much vigour ; this will occafion them to pufli out fide 

 branches, whereby the fap will be diverted from afcend- 

 ing too tad to the leading branches; but it muft be 

 cautioufly done. 



In taking oft decayed branches care mufi be taken to 

 take them off at the place where they are produced, 

 otherwife the infeftion will extend itfeit ; and lliould the 

 branch be large, which is neceflary to be cut away, let 

 the part be carefully fmoothed, laying over the wound a 

 plaifier of grafting clay. Such branches as crofs each 

 other fliould be removed, to prevent a canker, which 

 otherwife would be occafioned by their rubbing each 

 ether; and it mufl be obferved in old trees, particularly 

 the Apple, that from the trunk, young fhoots rife with 

 great vigour into the head, thefe fhould be cut away, as 

 the admiiTion of fun and air is quite neceffary both for 

 the prefervation of the tree, and the ripening of the 

 fruit. 



Strawberries. They love a gentle hazelly loam, that 

 is moifl:, which is better for them than a light rich one, 

 they are not to be treated with dung, as it only occafi- 

 ons them to grow luxuriant. Oclober is the beft feafon 

 for planting them, for fuch as are moved in fpring will 

 require watering, if the weather fhould be dry ; the 

 ground is ufually laid in beds- of four feet broad, with 

 paths of two feet between them, thefe fhould have the 

 roots of v.eeds well cleared out ; then let four lines be 

 drawn in each bed at a foot diftance, this will leave fix 

 inches fpace on each fide, between the outfide rows and 

 the paths; let the plants be fet at a foot diflance from 

 each oiher in the rows, in quincunx order, (fee fig. 17), 

 cliifing the earth on the plants, v.'iilch are to be watered, 

 unlefs rain defcends; the diflance here direSed is for 

 the wood StrcrMherry, giving thofe of a larger growth, 

 vi'/.. the Scarlet and Hautboy., fifteen inches diftance, and 

 (it the!e but three rows in a bed, the Chili are to have 

 but two, and at two feet diflance. In your choice of 

 plants be careful that they are taken from beds that have 

 been well attended and fruitful, the ofF-fets which ftand 

 nearefl: the mother-plant, are to be chofen for new plan- 

 tations ; tlie wood Straivbcrry is bell; when taken into the 



garden 



