MINIATUEE FEUIT GAEDEN CALENDAR 149 



removing from pears and apples about half their 

 number. 



July. — The very early kind of pears should be 

 gathered before they are quite ripe. 



August. — Early ripening pears — viz., sorts that ripen 

 in September — may be gathered, unless the season be 

 late. 



S&ptemh&r. — Shortening the shoots may be done; 

 gathering of early pears before fully ripe to be attended 

 to. Towards the end gather apples and pears that 

 ripen before Christmas. 



October. — Towards the middle of the month planting 

 may be commenced ; and if the rain has penetrated 

 sufficiently, root-pruniag may be done ; also lifting and 

 replanting (see p. 14). About the middle gather late 

 pears. 



November. — Planting, root-pruning, lifting, and re- 

 planting may stUl be safely carried on. 



December. — All the operations of last month may 

 BtUl be practised if they have been forgotten or 

 neglected. 



Always bear in mind that a vigorous-growing tree 

 that does not bear fruit requires being lifted and 

 replanted — even annually — till it becomes frnitM, and 

 that a tree that bears well and makes annual shoots 

 under twelve inches in length, requires neither root- 

 pruning nor removal, but merely summer pinching of 

 its shoots to about half their length. 



The following extract from a letter is interesting, as 



