CALENDAR FOR NORTHERN STATES 237 



Prune back the canes of black cap raspberries to thirty 

 inches or less in height. This causes branching and gives 

 more fruit next year. 



Young fruit trees, such as peaches, plums, apples and 

 pears, should be examined this month for summer pruning. 

 Remove with the fingers the little shoots on the main branches 

 and base of the lower limbs. Where the growth is taking place 

 in undesired parts remove the shoots with the fingers. This 

 forces the growth the remainder of season where it is wanted. 



Peaches, plums and pears which are bearing fruit should 

 be examined to see if the fruits are too close. Thinning fruits 

 in late June or early July increases the size of the remainder. 

 Never allow the fruits to touch each other. With peaches and 

 plums the distance apart should be four to six inches. 



Summer pruning of shade trees and shrubs is also a good 

 practice. Better results are thus secured with less effort. 



Flood the lawn at night, if the weather is dry. Let the 

 water soak in deep. 



Flowers. — The soil in all flower beds should be loosened 

 with a rake or hoe. Never allow it to become hard and crusty. 



Again look out for the tall fiowers. Stake them up well! 

 A high wind may otherwise do much damage. 



Insect enemies must be watched and proper spraying done. 



AUGUST 



Vegetables. — Tie up the outer leaves of cauliflower to 

 blanch the heads. 



The earliest crop of celery may need blanching this month 

 (Fig. 136). Others begin the blanching when the plants are 

 about half grown. Three methods are common: (1) A sec- 

 tion of common drain tile, three or four inches in diameter, 

 may be placed around each plant. (2) Soil may be mounded- 

 up by the rows. (3) Twelve-inch boards may be placed close 

 to the plants on both sides of the row. These are held in 



