IN THE FRUIT GARDEN. 513 



Nectarines should be protected, in the manner directed 

 for the Apricot in February ; in sheltered situations, 

 where the trees have ripened perfectly their last year's 

 wood, they do not require protection, unless the weather 

 should prove very severe. Should insects appear on the 

 young leaves, let them be dusted over with flour of 

 sulphur; but do not attempt to wash them with the 

 engine till the blossoming season is over and the fruit 

 set. 



Plant out Strawberries, if the plantations have not 

 been completed previously. If Alpine Strawberries 

 have been raised from seed in the hot-bed, the young 

 plants may be pricked out on a warm border, under 

 hand-glasses, or in pans or boxes under a frame, till 

 they are fit to plant out finally where they are to re- 

 main. 



Thin out Grapes in the stove or forcing-house, and 

 suspend by strings the shoulders of those bunches 

 which require it. 



May. 



Thin out the young fruit of Apricots, leaving double 

 the quantity intended for the crop. 



Disbud all sorts of fruit trees against walls, except 

 Figs, from fore-right and side shoots which are not re- 

 quired, and, where long enough, train the rest to the 

 wall. 



Espalier trees must be looked over in the same 

 manner. 



All curled and blistered leaves of Peaches and Nec- 

 tarines should be picked off and burnt, without suffering 

 them to fall on the ground, and the trees washed over 

 with the engine after the middle of the day, but not so 

 late as to prevent the trees getting dry before sun-set. 

 If the trees are much infested with insects, and mildew 



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