JULY 339 



at night and let the water soak into the soil well. Extra seed and 

 some nitrate of soda may be sown where the lawns are poor. Rake 

 in the fertilizer and seeds to cover them with soil. 



May.— Use the cultivator frequently about the bush fruits. As 

 soon as any patch of strawberries is picked, remove the mulch, 

 mow vines and take them to the compost heap. Then start the 

 cultivator immediately. 



This may be the best time for the thinning of fruits on such 

 trees as the peach, apple, pear and plum. Leave only enough to 

 make a good crop. Do not let the fruits touch each other. You 

 will get larger and better fruit if you thin early. 



Pinching off the small shoots may be advisable on the main 

 limbs and trunks of peach, plum, and apple 



June. — Continue the summer pruning work so as to direct the 

 growth where it should continue. Keep the lawns well mowed, 

 and do not let the grass form seed-heads. Cutting grass makes 

 better sod. Water the grass well if the weather is dry. 



Blackberries and raspberries may be about through bearing 

 before this month is over. The raspberries should be cut back and 

 the old canes removed as soon as picking is over. With the black- 

 berries use a brush hook and cut the vines to the ground. Remove 

 them with forks. If they have been attacked by rust or by borers 

 the vines should be burned; otherwise they may go to the compost 

 heap to rot. 



July. — As soon as the bush fruits have been pruned they should 

 be cultivated thoroughly. Keep up the clean culture until frost. 

 This is good practice also for the strawberry patch. 



Prune the hedges again to good form and cultivate the soil near 

 them. If the growth is poor in places, feed with manure or com- 

 mercial fertilizer. 



If the grapes are in danger from attacks by poultry or birds the 

 bunches may be bagged as soon as they begin to show any ripening 

 color. 

 This may be the month for pruning the blackberries. 

 Go over all the shrubs and see if there are any dead or dying 

 parts. Prune out the dead rose heads and give all a trimmed 

 appearance. 



This is the month for sowing winter cover crops in the orchard. 

 Use crimson clover, vetch and rye so the growth will continue 

 all winter and early in the spring. This will make a good supply of 

 green manure for use in improving the soil the next year. 



