412 
THE FRUIT GARDEN. 
is well to have them thoroughly cleaned, 
handling them gently, and laying them thinly 
over the floor ; if they have been laid by in a 
dirty state they must be turned regularly. 
Lose no time in sowing the winter crop, if not 
already done : the ground must be well pre- 
pared by deep digging and rich manuring, 
and sow thickly, so as to have enough, and to 
spare for salads, &c. 
Parsley. — -Attend to thinning, hoeing and 
cleaning ; it is well to have a good deal trans- 
planted. 
Parsnips. — The present month is still 
favourable for sowing parsnips : one half 
ounce of seed will suffice for a hundred square 
feet. 
Peas. — Use the utmost care when gather- 
ing from the late crops, not to break the stems; 
hoe and. keep the ground fresh about them : 
it will be necessary to protect them from birds, 
&c. by netting or similar means. 
Potatoes. — More than usual care should be 
bestowed on this crop. Before they are stored 
see that they are well dried, and all diseased 
ones picked out ; probably it is well, if the 
weather is dry, to lift them early if they are 
approaching ripeness. Where it is practica- 
ble, have the potato house free of drip, well 
ventilated, and with plenty of room, so as to 
prevent the necessity of laying them in large 
heaps : it is advantageous to turn them fre- 
quently. 
Radishes. — Sow on a warm border, and 
cover with netting until the seed vegetates. 
Salads. — Nearly all the small sorts will 
still require to be sown every ten days or so: 
a warm, airy border should be devoted to this 
purpose. 
Spinach. — Sow yet, if not done, and thin, 
hoe, and encourage the earlier sowings ; give 
this crop one of the best situations the garden 
affords.. 
Tomatoes. — Keep them from growing now, 
and concentrate the strength of the plants in 
the fruit: have them neatly nailed, and ex- 
posed as much as possible to the sun, by 
thinning the branches. 
COCUMBER AND MELON ERAMES-. 
Cucumbers. — If young plants are being 
raised in hot-beds for winter bearing, get 
them potted carefully in light soil, and grown 
on as strong as possible, ready for planting out 
next month : keep them near- the glass ; 
let the temperature range about sixty-five 
degrees ; and give some air, but do it 
cautiously. Towards the end of the month 
prepare the fruiting bed in the usual way. 
If there is room in the stove to turn out two 
or three plants in boxes of moderate size, set 
a little above the flues, a supply of fruit may 
be had with much less trouble than if thev 
are grown in dung-beds, which during winter, 
when everything that can be done is done, is 
often found to be vexatious and precarious. 
Melons. — Attend to the ripening off of the 
late fruit by withholding water, and keeping 
the lights closed to get as much heat as pos- 
sible. After this month, melons are of little 
value. 
THE FRUIT GARDEN. 
Diligence, perseverance, and care must 
characterize the operations in the fruit de- 
partment. Collect the various sorts of fruit 
as they ripen. Tlie refuse will serve as traps 
for wasps, &c. Withhold water until the crops 
are all gathered. 
Apricots. — The trees will now be clear of 
fruit, and this will be a favourable opportunity 
to give a last assistance to the thorough ripen- 
ing of the wood by thinning out superfluous 
shoots, decayed leaves, &c. Syringe the trees 
if the red spider has made any progress. 
Apples. — See that every kind is gathered 
at the proper season, and that they are all 
named, and neatly arranged in the fruit room, 
which should be clean, well ventilated, and 
shady. 
Cherries. — The Morellos must be kept 
netted to protect them from birds, and should 
be always gathered when quite dry. 
Cur-rants. — If these have- been carefully 
covered or matted up, it is probable that 
pretty good fruit will now be secured ; but it 
must not be expected to be equal to what it 
was in proper season. As soon as the bushes 
are cleared, remove the coverings and dress 
the ground about them. 
Figs. — The utmost tenderness must be ex- 
ercised in handling this fruit i have the finer 
ones covered with gauze if the wasps are 
numerous. 
Gooseberries. — As the bushes are cleared, 
take off all the coverings, and get the wood 
well ripened before winter. 
Nectarines. — Attend to the perfecting of the 
wood, by giving it all the sun, air, and light 
possible ; this do, by again looking over the 
trees when clear of fruit, taking away such 
shoots as can be spared. 
Peaches. — Let the ripe fruit be carefully 
looked to ; syringe the trees when the crop is 
cleared, if they are infested, but not other- 
wise : thin the wood and decayed leaves to 
the utmost, and get the wood, if possible,, red 
and hard, ripe for next season. 
Pears. — This is one of the most valuable 
of our dessert fruits: give it extra attention, 
and gather all the finer and keeping sorts by 
the hand separately ; place them carefully in 
a basket lined with some soft material, and 
place them on the shelves of the fruit room 
with gentleness. Place them in order con- 
venient for use. 
