NOTES ON PLANTING AND PRUNING. 



109 



They may or may not be true to name, but their roots are almost 

 unavoidably considerably dried. 



Strawberries. — Strawberries should be planted very firmly, in August 

 or very early in September. In planting, the collar or neck must be 

 only just below the ground ; and the roots should be well spread out on 

 all sides. 



Baspberries. — When planting, spread out the roots ; shorten back the 

 canes in spring to a height of 6 or 9 inches, or to 3 or 4 buds. Do not 

 expect fruit the first season. This treatment ensures fine fruiting canes 

 the next year. 



NOTES ON PRUNING. 



Apples, Pears, Plums, Damsons, and Cherries. — In order to promote 

 strong growth standard Apples, Pears, and Plums should have their shoots 

 shortened at planting to about one- third of their length, and should not 

 be allowed to bear fruit for two years. Damsons require little pruning, as 

 the buds on the lower part of the shoots break into growth naturally. 

 Cherries are best left unpruned the first season, and the less they are cut 

 the better at all times. Young bush trees should be treated in the same 

 way as standards, but older ones which have been trained in a nursery 

 will not need much pruning. After the first year's growth has been 

 made from the cut-back shoots, standards will only need the removal in 

 summer of shoots that cross one another, or crowd the centre of the tree. 

 Bush trees should have the side shoots on the branches shortened to 

 about 6 good leaves at the end of July, cutting further back to 2 or 

 3 buds in winter, when the leading shoots may also be pruned to 10 or 

 12 buds. 



Strawberries. — When not wanted for planting, cut off the "runners" 

 as they appear, so as to throw all the strength into the main crowns. Do 

 not cut the leaves off. Fresh beds should be made every third year ; a 

 better plan is to plant one or two fresh rows every year, and destroy one 

 or two old ones. 



Baspberries. — Thin out the young growths in early summer by pulling 

 up the superfluous ones, and cut out the old canes altogether as soon as 

 they have done fruiting. Manure should be laid over the roots and left to 

 decay. Raspberries are injured by digging amongst the fibrous roots near 

 the canes. 



Currants and Gooseberries. — Red and White Currants should have 

 the young side shoots shortened to 5 or 6 leaves early in summer, cutting 

 back to a couple of buds in winter, and shortening the main leading 

 shoots then to 6 inches, more or less, according as it is wished to let the 

 bush increase in size or not. The centre of the bushes should be kept 

 quite free from growths. Black Currants should be pruned on the exactly 

 opposite plan, cutting out the old wood and leaving the young summer 

 growths their full length, only removing shoots in the centre, so that the 

 leaves of those remaining do not touch one another. Red and White 

 Currants bear chiefly on the old wood ; Black Currants on the new (i.e. last 

 year's) growth. Gooseberries bear both on the spurs and young wood ; 

 therefore in pruning leave a young shoot here and there where room can 



