Propagating Strawberries

The propagation of Strawberries by means of runners should be continued in accordance with previous advice. The runners may be rooted in small pots plunged in the soil round the plants, or in small squares of turf. Water should be given in dry weather.

Summer Pruning

Where the breastwood of trained trees, whether of Apples, Pears, Plums, or Cherries, was pinched early in June, it will probably have pushed subsidiary shoots by the end of July, and these may be stopped at the first leaf. Those who prefer to perform their summer pruning in one operation will probably not take action until the end of July or the early part of August, when they will stop the side shoots at the sixth leaf from the base.

Summer-Pruning Gooseberries And Red Currants

What applies to the larger fruits applies also to Gooseberries and Red and White (not Black) Currants. When the breastwood gets thick it is an advantage to open up the bushes by pinching off the ends of the side shoots at the sixth leaf. The summer pruning helps the basal buds to become plump and mature, consequently in good condition for yielding fruit the following year.

Fig. 54. - Propagating Strawberries.

a. Old plant.

b. The runner, to be layered and pegged down in the small pot, c.

d. The stem, to be severed beyond the first plant on the runner.

Birds And Ripening Fruit

The bird plague will now be at its worst, and must be checked by protecting the crops with fish netting. In the case of wall trees the nets should be held a foot away from the wall with sticks, or blackbirds will throw themselves against it, press it to the wall, and eat the fruit through the mesh.

Grapes

If the thinning practised some weeks earlier proves to be insufficient, berries that are overcrowding each other may be thinned out now. The bunches should be firm, but not packed tightly.

Melons In Frames

Place a flower pot under each ripening fruit, in order to keep it off the surface of the bed.