INCREASING THE HOME FRUIT SUPPLY. 
25 
bear this in mind during his labours. Every branch must have air 
and light around it. The fine and well-developed fruits on Espaliers 
and Cordons are a witness to this fact. It is not often realized that 
cooking Plums may be stored for some time when gathered unripe, 
and they will ripen more slowly than on the tree. The gages too 
can be kept for months in a cool room if sound well-ripened fruits are 
selected. The skins will be a trifle tough, but the flavour even im- 
proved. These two must not be allowed to hang too long or they will 
become flavourless. A point in the pruning of raspberries may be 
mentioned here. It is usual in many English gardens for the canes 
to be tipped off at the same height. If, however, the canes in spring 
are cut at various heights from four feet to two feet from the ground, 
the shorter canes will fruit much later and thus prolong the season. 
Hand Fertilizing Fruits. 
The question of the self -sterility of certain varieties of fruits is 
yet in the experimental stage, and I am inclined to think much of the 
evidence so far offered is somewhat unconvincing. It will be well, 
however, to take every precaution to ensure a crop, and therefore the 
carrying of pollen (by means of a rabbit's tail on a slender stick) from 
one variety to another is advisable where fruit does not set freely. 
A dry day should be chosen and the pollen lightly dusted on the 
flowers on two or three occasions. Failing a rabbit's tail a wad of 
cotton wool or a powder puff will answer equally well. 
Manuring. 
The question of rational manuring of fruit-trees is, I fear, one 
that is yet neglected in many gardens. It has been said that the 
persistent starvation of the lawn is a striking feature of the English 
gardens, but fruit trees stand scarcely second in this respect. The 
visible response of plants to nitrogenous manures has often led to the 
neglect of other equally necessary plant foods. First in importance 
must be placed lime. All fruit-trees require lime, and without it a 
large amount of other manure is wasted or rendered unavailable. 
Lime should be applied, when slaked and in the form of a fine 
powder, at the rate of 21 lb. to the square yard or 3! tons to the acre, 
during the winter months. Chalk is equally good, and the gas 
lime and the waste from acetylene plants can also be utilized with 
perfect safety, after exposure to the air for a month or two. Nitro- 
genous manures should be used if the trees are not growing well, but 
sparingly in any case. 
Next in importance comes phosphate, upon which fertility and 
earliness depend. This should be applied yearly in some form or 
other. Superphosphate is the most available, and 1 lb. to each 5 
square yards or 8 cwt. to the acre willbg a sufficient amount, and it is 
applied in the early spring months. Basic slag, when it can be obtained, 
is a valuable source of phosphate ; apply 6 oz. to the square yard or 
5 cwt. to the acre. 
