DECEMBER: SECOND WEEK 327 



erally only a half or a third of the tree should be so treated 

 at one cutting, and some experienced person should be con- 

 sulted if this form of treatment is to be attempted. 



Drastic Treatment for the Cane Fruits 



The cane fruits — raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, 

 and the various hybrids recently introduced — should also 

 be severely pruned, or rather thinned. Next season's crop 

 of fruit will be borne on canes produced this year. Old 

 ones should all be cut out clean now if this has not already 

 been attended to; the others should be shortened back 

 slightly to lessen the chance of their being injured by 

 whipping about in strong winds. Have your hands and 

 wrists well protected when you tackle this job. In very 

 cold climates it is necessary to lay down the more tender 

 varieties, and in some cases even to cover them with earth 

 to protect them during the winter. 



These things are prickly, but some of the gooseberries 

 are more so; yet they need severe pruning, not only to pro- 

 duce better fruit, but to make sure of any at all. Branches 

 that bend over and touch the soil should be cut off, and 

 the plants should be kept very open so that Hght and air 

 can get to every part of them, as they are very susceptible 

 to mildew. Currants will continue to bear year after 

 year even if they are not pruned, but the quality of the 

 fruit will be very greatly improved if the bushes are kept 

 quite severely cut back. The best fruit is borne on wood 

 that is two or three seasons old, therefore in pruning cut 

 out any surplus new growth of the present season and wood 

 that is four years or more old. Examine the remaining 

 canes carefully for the borer. 



Winter Pruning oj Shrubs and Roses 



Single or specimem shrubs should, after several years' 

 growth, have a Httle of the old wood cut out each year to 

 prevent overcrowding. The longer branches should be 



