March.] THE ORCHARD. <)v);j 



growth from beds of good plants that are in full perfection forbear- 

 ing, and not from worn-out stools, taking them up with good roots. 



Prepare for these plants a piece of good ground, either in the 

 main quarters or in the borders; if loamy the better; and let some 

 rotten dung be dug in. If in the main quarters, divide the ground 

 into beds four feet wide, with alleys eighteen inches wide between 

 them, or they may be planted in continued rows in the borders. 

 Plant the strawberries of the scarlet kind fifteen inches asunder, 

 and allow the same distance between plant and plant in the rows. 

 But the large kinds, such as the hautboy and Chili, should be plant- 

 ed eighteen inches distant every way. 



The Alpine or prolific strawberry, should likewise be planted 

 fifteen or eighteen inches distant every way, that there may be 

 room for their runners to spread and take root; this kind of straw- 

 berry being different in its manner of bearing from the others, for 

 the runners often yield the largest and fairest fruit; this kind con- 

 tinues bearing ripe fruit from the latter end of May to October. 



A farther supply of bearing strawberry plants in pots may still 

 be placed in hot-beds and hot-houses, &c. to produce a succession 

 of early fruit, and to afford a sutlicient supply till those in the open 

 o-round ripen. * 



Forcing Fruit Trees. 



Continue the care of fruit trees now forwarding in hot-walls and 

 forcing-houses; such as peaches, nectarines, cherries, vines, &c. ; 

 let the fires be made every cold afternoon and morning, but regu- 

 larly at night; and as the season advances in heat, and the sun's 

 power increases, diminish the fires and admit more air: occasional 

 waterings will be very necessary to encourage the fruit to swell 

 and grow freely; but be particular towards the latter end of the 

 month, when the sun gets powerful, to admit air in proportion, 

 and to manage the plants in every respect as directed in February, 

 page 139. 



THE ORCHARD. 



Pruning. 



Finish pruning of all kinds of fruit trees as early in this month 

 as possible, according to the rules laid down under the head Or- 

 chard in January and February, to which 1 refer you for that, as 

 well as other useful information. 



In those parts of the union where the winter is very severe and 

 the weather changeable, autumnal pruning of fruit trees is not ail- 

 viseable, particularly of stone fruit; for by pruning at that season, 

 especially if many limbs are cut off, you are apt to bring on the 



