496 . Monthly Calendar of Work. 



Manure strawberries. 



Prune old wood out of currant bushes and spade in manure, and 

 the size of the berries will be greatly increased. 



Uncover vines in cold graperies, and place them in position. 



Pinch in the young shoots of grapes in green-houses towards the 

 end of the month, and thin bunches. Grapes in hot-houses need 

 uniform warmth and air. 



Nurserymen will commence digging and packing as soon as the 

 ground is open, p. 146. 



For the Southern States, read the directions for May and June. 



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. 73. 



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. 64. 



Mulch young trees when the soil cannot be cultivated constantly, 

 but avoid watering before the leaves expand, p. 65. 



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. 152 ; and commence the 

 destruction of the curculio, p. 160. 



For the Southern States, read the directions for June. 



JUNE. 



Continue the operations of last month wherever necessary, and 

 increase cultivation and destroy weeds. 



Make thorough work with the cuiculio, p. 160. Destroy aphides 

 as soon as they appear by strong soapsuds, p. 154, and the currant 

 worm by dusting with hellebore, p. 162. 



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

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



