Monthly Calendar of Work. 497 



heated grape-houses, and pinch back laterals on those in cold 

 houses. Keep up a mild, damp atmosphere. 



Examine peach trees and destroy the peach grub, p. 157. 



Thin out fruit on overbearing trees, p. 109. 



Shorten back new shoots of the blackberry, p. 469. 



Cut off all the parts of plum trees that show the first indications 

 of black-knot, p. 166. Destroy caterpillars' nests that have escaped 

 attention. Give slugs a dusting of dry lime, or dash them off with 

 dry sand or powdered soil. 



Mulch the surface of the earth around newly transplanted cherry 

 trees. 



JULY. 



Continue cultivation to prevent the growth of weeds and the 

 formation of a crust on the soil. 



Mulch all young trees when cultivation cannot be given. 



Continue thinning fruit, and rubbing off supernumerary shoots 

 on young trees. 



Pinch off the shoots of blackberries, as described in the chapter 

 on this fruit. 



Perform the operation of summer-layering the grape early in the 

 month, p. 396. 



Transplant strawberries, p. 433. 



Commence budding all trees that have well formed or matured 

 buds the cherry usually first, then the plum and pear. 



Continue watching for the peach-worm and apple-borer, pp. 152, 

 157, and cut off at their first appearance fire-blighted pear-shoots, 

 and black-knot on the plum. 



Secure cherry-stones for planting, by mixing the washed seeds 

 with moist sand before they have dried, p. 142. 



Give a good supply of air to ripening fruit in heated grape - 

 houses, which will secure both color and flavor. Thin the forming 

 bunches in cold houses, and remove defective or diseased berries, 

 and avoid cold currents of air. 



AUGUST. 



This month is chiefly to be occupied with a continuance of the 

 labors of the past. Destroy weeds ; keep the ground mellow about 

 young trees ; pinch off shoots that are becoming too long in young 

 trees and blackberry bushes ; mulch trees that are suffering from 



