March.] THE ORCHARD. 223 
growth from beds of good plants that are in full perfection for bear- 
ing, and not from worn-out stools, taking them up with good roots. 
Prepare for these plants a piece of good ground, either in the 
main quarters or in the borders; if loamy the better; and let some 
rotten dung be dug in. If in the main quarters, divide the ground 
into beds four feet wide, with alleys eighteen inches wide between 
them, or they may be planted in continued rows in the borders. 
Plant the strawberries of the scarlet kind fifteen inches asunder, 
and allow the same distance between plant and plant in the rows. 
But the large kinds, such as the hautboy and Chili, should be plant- 
ed eighteen inches distant every way. 
The Alpine or prolific strawberry, should likewise be planted 
fifteen or eighteen inches distant every way, that there may be 
room for their runners to spread and take root; this kind of straw- 
berry being different in its manner of bearing from the others, for 
the runners often yield the largest and fairest fruit; this kind con- 
tinues bearing ripe fruit from the latter end of May to October. 
A farther supply of bearing strawberry plants in pots may still 
be placed in hot-beds and hot-houses, &c. to produce a succession 
of early fruit, and to afford a sufficient supply till those in the open 
ground ripen. 
Forcing Fruit Trees. 
Continue the care of fruit trees now forwarding in hot-walls and 
forcing-houses; such as peaches, nectarines, cherries, vines, &c.; 
let the fires be made every cold afternoon and morning, but regu- 
larly at night; and as the season advances in heat, and the sun's 
power increases, diminish the fires and admit more air: occasional 
waterings will be very necessary to encourage the fruit to swell 
and grow freely; but be particular towards the latter end of the 
month, when the sun gets powerful, to admit air in proportion, 
and to manage the plants in every respect as directed in February, 
page 139. 
THE ORCHARD. 
Pruning. 
Finish pruning of all kinds of fruit trees as early in this month 
as possible, according to the rules laid down under the head Or- 
chard in January and February, to which I refer you for that, as 
well as other useful information. 
In those parts of the union where the winter is very severe and 
the weather changeable, autumnal pruning of fruit trees is not ad- 
viseable, particularly of stone fruit; for by pruning at that season, 
especially if many limbs are cut off, you are apt to bring on the 
