Oct.] THE ORCHARD. 529 



may now be laid in the earth, as directed in page 288, and they 

 will be all well rooted by this time twelve months. 



Suckers may be taken off' and planted from codlins, berberries, 

 filberts, &c. digging them up with good roots to each, and planting 

 the largest at once where they are to remain, and the rest into 

 nursery-rows. 



Dressing the Straivberry Beds, and making new Plantations. 



The old beds of strawberries should some time in this month 

 have their winter dressing, in doing of which, they should be clean- 

 ed from weeds, and the vines or runners taken off' close to the 

 plants; then if there be room between the plants by having been 

 kept to distinct heads or single bunches, which is certainly the most 

 preferable method, loosen the earth to a moderate depth with a 

 small spade or hoe, observing not to disturb the roots. And if the 

 plants are in beds with alleys between, line out the alleys and let 

 them be dug a moderate depth, breaking the earth very fine and 

 spreading a sufficiency of it over the beds between and around the 

 roots of the plants, being careful not to bury their tops. A slight 

 top dressing of well rotted dung may sometimes be necessary. 

 This dressing will prove very beneficial, and promote strength and 

 a plentiful crop the ensuing season. 



When it was omitted last month, new plantations of strawberries 

 may now be made, but the earlier in the month the better, that 

 the plants may have time to establish new roots before winter. For 

 full instructions on that head see page 485. 



Preserving Stones and Kernels of Fruits. 



Preserve in damp earth or sand, the stones of the various kinds 

 of fruit you intend to sow for stocks, &c, and let apple, pear, and 

 quince kernels, be preserved in dry sand till you wish to sow them. 

 Observe not to place them in the way of mice, rats, or squirrels, 

 which would immediately destroy them; and when sown, every 

 precaution must be taken to preserve them from these animals. 



THK ORCHARD. 



Winter pears and apples should generally be gathered this month; 

 some will be fit for pulling in the early part, others not before the 

 middle or latter end thereof. 



To know when the fruits have had their full growth, you should 

 try several of them in different parts of the trees, by turning them 

 gently one way or the other; if they quit the tree easily, it is a sign 

 of maturity and time to gather them. 

 3 T 



