112 



THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



IVall and Espalier Fruit Trees. 



Where the apricot, peach, nectarine, and other wall or espalier 

 trees were neglected last month, or not carefully attended to, you 

 may in the early part of this thin the fruit as then directed; rub off" 

 all fore-right or ill-placed shoots, and train others regularly at 

 proper distances: be not too officious with the knife at this season, 

 nor pull off' any of the leaves from the branches, unless they are 

 distempered; for the pulling off* the leaves will expose the fruit too 

 much to the sun, and thereby greatly check their growth; besides 

 it would greatly injure the buds which are formed at the foot-stalks 

 of those leaves. For further particulars respecting fruit trees, see 

 the Fruit Garden for May, which are generally applicable in this 

 month. 



Straivberries. 



The strawberry plants in general will, early in the month, be 

 coming into full bearing, and if watered occasionally between the 

 rows as directed in page 387, it will swell the fruit to a much larger 

 size, and greatly encourage the bloom and setting of an abundant 

 crop. 



Should the weather prove moist or cloudy, this will be a very 

 proper season, to make new plantations of the various kinds of 

 strawberries, observing the method directed in page 222. But it 

 would be more adviseable at this time to plant some of the best 

 runner-plants of this year's production into nursery beds in shady 

 borders, six inches asunder, there to remain and get strength till 

 September or October, and then to plant them with balls of earth 

 where they are to stand for fruiting. Frequent waterings will now 

 be very necessary for the young plantations. 



Be particular in selecting the best kinds, and of the stoutest and 

 most vigorous growth; dress or trim their roots, and cut oft' all the 

 strings or runners previous to planting. 



Though it is not common to propagate strawberries at this sea- 

 son, yet if done, and duly watered till they are well rooted, the 

 plants will be stronger, and bear much more abundantly next sea- 

 son, than if deferred till September or October; but if the weather 

 should not happen to be peculiarly favourable, I would advise them 

 to be planted for the present in nursery beds, in a shady border, as 

 before observed, taking good care to water them frequently till 

 well rooted. 



You may, however, any time this month, plant out some of the 

 young runner-plants of the Alpine or prolific strawberry, and if 

 shaded and watered till they have taken fresh root, they will soon 

 bear fruit on the present plants, and in August and September, on 

 the runners produced in the intermediate time. 



