FRUITS FOR COTTAGERS AND SMALL FARMERS IN SCOTLAND. 69 



Strawberries. — In planting, the collar or neck must be only just 

 below the ground, and the roots be well spread out on all sides. 



Baspberries. — When planting, spread out the roots and 

 shorten back the canes to four or five eyes, in fact to a height of 

 six inches. No fruit must be expected the first season, but fine 

 fruiting canes for the next year will be produced. 



Note on Peuning. 



Apples, Pears, Plums, Damsons, and Cherries. — Cottagers 

 will do well to ask some neighbouring gardener to prune their 

 trees the first and second years if they require it. After the first 

 year's growth has been made, standards will only need the re- 

 moval of shoots that cross one another, and about nine inches 

 cut off the points of strong shoots. Bush trees should have the 

 side shoots of the branches well shortened back to three or four 

 inches, and the leading shoots to eight or ten inches. 



Strawberries. — When not wanted for fresh planting, the 

 " runners " should be cut off as they appear, so as to throw all 

 the strength into the plant. Do not cut the leaves off. Fresh 

 beds should be made every third or fourth year. 



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, but the ground should never be dug near 

 the canes. 



Currants. — Red and White Currants should have the side 

 shoots of the summer's growth shortened back to a couple of 

 eyes, and the main leading shoots to five or six eyes, 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 growths their 

 full length, only removing shoots in the centre to let in the sun 

 and air. Red and White Currants bear chiefly on spurs on the 

 old wood ; Black Currants on the new {i.e., last year's) growth. 



Note on Manuking. 



It is a mistake to give young trees heavy dressings of manure, 

 as the ordinary soil of gardens is rich enough. For the first few 



