146 THE PHI LADELPH IA FLORIST. [Sept'b. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS, g» 



FOR SEPTEMBER. 



Written by Practical Gardeners, for the Philadelphia Florist. 



HARDY FRUIT. 



Strawberries. — The early portion of this month is a suitable sea- 

 son for making new plantations of the above. As the strawberry is 

 comparatively a permanent plant, and one that requires continued 

 good treatment, the preparation of the soil in the first instance is im- 

 portant. The soil should be trenched at least eighteen inches deep 

 and well manured ; very frequently we have a 'spell' of dry weather 

 just as the fruit is ripening, and on shallow soil they ripen premature- 

 ly, attaining neither proper size or flavor — therefore stir up the soil to 

 a good depth, which will enable it to absorb and retain an available 

 supply of moisture for the roots when the top supply fails. There are 

 various methods of planting; they can either be placed in rows of '2g 

 feet apart and 9 inches from plant to plant, or mark out beds 6 ft. wide 

 and put 4- rows in each, the plants 15 inches asunder every way. Bos- 

 ton Pine, British Queen, and such like robust growers require plenty 

 of 'elbow room;' they do best in hills 30 inches apart, placing 3 plants 

 in a triangular form to each hill; cover the ground between the plants 

 with tan bark, and they will soon commence growth. Old planta- 

 tions should be treated with a dressing of guano or leached ashes; sow 

 the former at the rate of 400 lbs. to the acre. This valuable manure 

 is most advantageously applied at this season; it should be immediate- 

 ly incorporated with the soil, as its beneficial effects are limited if left 

 exposed on the surface. 



Root Pruning. — We would take this occasion to revert to the sys- 

 tem of root pruning fruit trees to induce fruitfulness. This is looked 

 upon with diffidence by many cultivators, although its good effects are 

 placed beyond all doubt. Like everything else, a proper discrimina- 

 tion of the subjects to be operated upon, and the manner of perform- 

 ing the operation are alike necessary. Many of the operations in hor- 

 ticulture seem more formidable in the theoretical abstract than they 

 are in the practical reality. In our last we alluded to the system of 

 checking a luxuriant tree by pruning part of the young growing shoots. 

 Perhaps we would state the case more justly by saying that the sap 

 would thus be directed into other channels, with a tendency to hurst 

 otherwise dormant eyes, some of which might form fruiting shoots. It 

 will be remembered, however, that we alluded more particularly to 

 pear trees grafted on quince, as our remarks there are scarcely appli- 

 caole to free growing stocks. That any system of mere branch prun- 

 ing will change a healthy, luxuriant tree, from a barren to a fruitful 

 state, we think questionable ; indeed, after repeated experiments, we 

 do not believe in it at all. Pruning in winter will not doit, from the 

 fact that the plant is continually absorbing nourishment by its roots, 

 and accumulating sap in the branches (except in frosty weather;) and 

 although we prune off a portion of the branches, the remaining parts 

 are well stored with sap, which affords a ready supply to the buds on 

 the first excitement of spring. The roots are again set in active mo- 

 tion, the branches shoot forth with redoubled vigor, and the tree is 

 further removed from a fruitbearing state than ever. Summer pruning 

 f^ 1 is also inefficient. It is true that a reciprocal action is constantly going 1 



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