August 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
countrymen whom it is usual to have excluded from 
such exhibitions, on the plea of their reckless spolia¬ 
tions ; and conveys, at the same time, such gratifying 
intelligence of the increased practice of bee-keeping 
among cottagers, on the depriving system, that we 
think it worthy of preservation. Our correspondent, 
writing from Bury, says:— 
“ I was very much gratified yesterday (July 27th), 
at seeing seventeen exhibitors of honey at our horti¬ 
cultural show (all obtained by deprivation), both in 
boxes, glasses, and small hives, all by cottagers, and 
all the honey of the finest quality. The show was 
held in the beautiful grounds of Hardwicke House, 
about a mile distant from Bury, which, through the 
kindness of Sir Tlios. and Lady Culliun, were thrown 
open to the public from one till nine o’clock; the 
stoves, conservatories, &c., being closed at five. The 
band of the Queen’s Lancers, from Norwich, were 
allowed by their colonel to attend for the day. There 
were 4171 tickets sold at the lodge-gate, so that, with 
members and their families, there were nearly, if not 
quite, six thousand persons present. Our kind-hearted 
mayor issued a request a few days ago that all shops 
in the town should be closed at one o’clock, that all 
persons might have an opportunity of enjoying the 
treat offered, which was generally responded to; and 
enjoyed it was, for there appeared to be a smile upon 
every face. I walked up this morning, and am happy 
to find that not the slightest damage was done either 
in the houses or the grounds.” 
THE ERUIT-GABDEN. 
The Beau. —At this period of the year, when the 
solar light begins so rapidly to decline, it becomes 
necessary to take means to insure a free admission 
of this fructifying element to all fruit-trees, especially 
the subject of our present remarks. 
It appears strange, to those unacquainted with the 
habits of the pear, that its long rambling side shoots 
should be left so long unmolested as we generally 
find them in most gardens; such are seldom much 
meddled with until midsummer has passed. When 
the vigorous nature of the root action is taken into 
consideration, together with the excitable character 
of the embryo blossom buds in the early spring, 
(which may then, by a sudden influx of sap, be 
speedily transformed into growing shoots) it will he 
seen that the policy is sound, and that these wild¬ 
looking shoots were merely employed as “safety- 
valves,” suffering the superfluous sap thus to expend 
itself. Nevertheless, the question immediately forces 
itself on the mind, why encourage the tree to produce 
superfluous sap ? Here, then, is a pivot on which 
turns a most extensive question, which want of space, 
and the inconvenience to the reader of digressive sal¬ 
lies, alike forbid us to enter upon at present. We 
flatter ourselves, however, before the year is out, to 
fully discuss this question; and we shall then show 
how much good soil (independent of manure) is worse 
than thrown away in the formation of fruit borders 
according to the old maxims. 
The time has arrived, then, when the growing 
shoots of the pear may he stopped all over the tree, 
if necessary, without damaging the embryo blossom 
bud of the ensuing year; the character of these is 
now so decided that no excitement could alter their 
destiny. Nature has, by this time, rolled them all up 
like our ancient Egyptian mummies, and, we may add, 
239 
embalmed them, too, with a highly elaborated mate¬ 
rial, which will serve as ready prepared food for the 
unfolding of the infant blossom bud in the ensuing 
spring. Such being the case, the next thing is how 
to obtain a regular admission of solar light all over 
the tree without any unnecessary amount of mutila¬ 
tion; for either to cut or strip all away but the mere 
embryo buds would be too severe a process, and 
would destroy, for a time, that reciprocity of action 
which nature has wisely established as the chief guid¬ 
ing principle of vegetation. 
We may here remark that our practice is at this 
period to pinch or stop all the points of the young 
shoots, excepting those which are considered leaders 
at the extremities of the branches. Young trees, 
however, just establishing themselves, may be left 
growing, in order to obtain strength, to cover the 
wall, fence, or treillage in the succeeding year. The 
operator should first go over the tree carefully, and 
see what short-jointed shoots can be tied down, or 
otherwise trained, without darkening the spurs ad¬ 
joining them, for all such may be secured. Such 
being done, and their points pinched, he may at once 
prune back all the rest to three or four eyes, leaving 
as many leaves at the base as he can without shading 
the spurs. Let it, however, be remembered, during 
the operation, that the whole process is carried out 
merely in order to admit the solar influences to the 
embryo fruit buds of the ensuing year, and to induce 
a fructiferous disposition in those forming for succes¬ 
sive seasons; for these will receive an increased 
amount of elaboration through the sun’s rays, which 
will be of immense benefit hereafter. 
Some kinds of pears are apt to become mealy in 
simny seasons, of which class is the Easter beurre 
if on a wall; this merely proves that the climate is 
too good for them in such seasons, and that less sun¬ 
light would be more beneficial. When such is found 
to be the case, we make a point of leaving somewhat 
more shading over the fruit; this is easily accom¬ 
plished by removing a much smaller portion ol the 
waste shoots, which we before advised should have 
two or three joints left on : in this case they may be 
left eight or nine inches in length. 
We hope our advice tendered some weeks since 
has been put in practice, viz., that relating to the 
selection of young shoots. Again we direct a careiul 
attention to the same principle. At this, the last 
dressing of the season, let every shoot which appears 
shorter jointed and browner than the rest be reserved, 
either tying or nailing them down to the wall or 
fence. Many such will be found to have ceased 
growing for some time ; these are invaluable, and if 
reserved will speedily be covered with blossom buds. 
Indeed the principal object of the dwarfing system 
here propounded is to cause the trees to produce 
such shoots (done, and where the maxims here laid 
down as to root-culture are strictly carried out such 
will assuredly be the case ; then a tithe ot the labour 
of disbudding, stopping, &c., will suffice, and the 
trees will blossom abundantly. 
The Red Spider sometimes gets ahead at this 
period ; where such is the case it must have no peace: 
sulphur should immediately be dusted liberally all 
over the tree, shaking it beneath the leaves, in order 
to cause a fine granular coating to settle over the 
under side of all the leaves. 
Strawberries. —Those who have not planted out 
their runners should do so immediately: not a day 
may be lost. Indeed, to be thoroughly successful 
in the culture of this fine fruit by the annual runner 
system, it should be planted by the middle of July : 
