200 



FRUITS. 



[chap. 



from bending down, when loaded with leaves and with fruit, by 

 stakes put along the side of the rows, and by little rods tied to 

 these stakes. Every stool will send out, during summer, a great 

 number of shoots. When the leaf is down, these should be all 

 taken away, except about four to produce fruit the next year. 

 The shoots that have borne during the summer die in the autumn : 

 these also should be removed ; and, in November, and again in 

 March, all the ground should be well and truly digged ; and the 

 weeds should be kept down completely during the whole of the 

 summer. One manuring in three years will be sufficient. The 

 common little raspberry is but a poorish thing ; and every one 

 should take care to have the Antwerp if possible. Raspberries, 

 when gathered, will not bear much keeping or pressing : they are 

 a very delicious fruit when taken at the proper time ; but if put 

 together in too great quantities, whether they be gathered care 

 fully or not, they will taste badly directly, and, in twelve hours, they 

 will be sour. Raspberries, like currants, are sometimes made use 

 of, with the assistance of sugar, to make wine, and, in America, 

 where strength is a great requisite, to make brandy ; that is to 

 say, a parcel of brandy and sugar is put amongst the juice of the 

 raspberries : these things I, for my part, totally disapprove of : 

 that which we call currant wine, is neither more nor less than red- 

 looking weak rum. The strength coming from the sugar; and 

 gooseberry wine is a thing of the same character, and, if the fi uit 

 were of no other use than this, one might wish them to be extir- 

 pated. Ptople deceive themselves. This thing is called wine; 

 but it is mm : that is to say, an extract from sugar. 



284. SERVICE. — A tree of the woods, where it bears a thing 

 between a sloe and a haw. It is totally unfit to be eaten ; and, 

 therefore, I shall say no more about it. 



285. STRAWBERRY.— Verv different from the last article 1 

 This is a fruit exceeded in no one respect (except that of keeping) 

 but by very few ; and surpassing a very great majority of the fruits 

 of this country. It is so well known that to describe either plant 

 or fruit would be almost an insult to the reader. I shall, there- 

 fore have to speak only of the different sorts, and to describe the 

 manner of propagating and cultivating the plants, so as to ensure, 

 or, at least, give the best chance of, line fruit and large crops, no 

 man ever having found that he had too much of this excellent fruit. 

 Strawberry plants are raised in the following manner : the plant. 



