167 



that the hat can be put amongst them. The illustration shows 



mostly fruit buds, except at the ex- 

 tremity of the branches, where the 

 young wood has been cut back to about 

 nine inches. In the summer both the 

 gooseberry and the currant receive the 

 following treatment : 



The young shoots which are seen push- 

 ing upwards are pinched back five or six 

 inches in length, as shown at (x x) in the 

 following illustration (p. 168) ; this will 



stttt 



A red currant busli after pruning. J. WEIGHT. 



allow sun and air to reach the crop of 

 fruit. A young shoot may here and 

 there be left if -there is room for its 

 growth. Should fresh shoots show on 

 those which have been cut back, they 

 should be pinched again, so as to favour 

 the formation of fruiting spurs. 



PRUNING THE STRAWBERRY. 



consists in trimming 



the roots at planting 



time, so as to favour 



the growth of the 



fibrous roots which 



will feed the plant, and later on in cutting 

 all runners before the fruiting season, and as 

 soon as they make their appearance. Unless 

 this is done the fruiting of the plant will be 

 seriously checked. Even after the fruiting, some 

 growers still remove the runners, and only leave 

 them on if young plants are required. In fact, 

 treat all runners as weeds the first season. The 

 illustration shows the design of a convenient 

 runner-cutter, which saves much trouble. The 

 crescent blade is of such a diameter that it will 



Gooseberry branch, one and two 

 years old. J. WRIGHT. 



Strawberry runner- 

 cutter. 



