Thinning Apples

Apples ought to be swelling up their fruit steadily now, and finer examples will develop if, where the fruits hang thickly, they are reduced to two per spur than where they are allowed to remain crowded.

Sawfiy Caterpillar On Gooseberries

If a Gooseberry grower finds that the foliage is being eaten after the fruit has been gathered, he should search for a small green, black-headed caterpillar, and if he finds it, he may safely credit it with the mischief. If the caterpillars are not present in considerable numbers perhaps spraying on the paraffin and soft-soap wash recommended under Onions in Chapter VI (June. Rose Time). will suffice; if not, hellebore powder should be resorted to. This is certain to prove a remedy if it is dusted on. If it is ever used on Gooseberries that are bearing fruit, the bushes should be vigorously syringed two or three days afterwards, as the powder is poisonous.

American Gooseberry Mildew

Gooseberry leaves are sometimes affected by white patches, which afterwards become brown and felt-like. The fruit is also attacked. The young wood may be marked with brown. These signs point to an attack of American Gooseberry mildew, which has spread a great deal during recent years, and become epidemic. In bad cases the bushes ought to be burned. In slight attacks the young shoots which are affected may be cut off and burned, and the bushes sprayed with sulphide of potassium - one ounce in three gallons of water.

Apple Scab

The fungoid disease known as scab, which causes dark patches to form on the leaves, and also patches, followed by cracking, on the fruit, tends to spread year by year. It may be reduced considerably by picking off any badly affected leaves and fruit, and spraying with Bordeaux mixture (see Chapter I (Jan. The Opening Year).).

Aphis On Cherries

A black aphis often attacks the foliage of Cherries, establishing itself on the young shoots, and injuring the tree by sucking out the sap. The paraffin and soft-soap spray is a sure remedy for this.

Silver Leaf Of Fruit Trees

During recent years a disease known as "silver leaf," owing to the grey, shiny appearance which the foliage assumes when the trees are attacked, has spread a good deal, principally among the stone fruits, such as Peaches and Plums. It is irregular in its action, sometimes spreading rapidly over a whole tree, at others merely attacking one shoot, and then making no more progress. A fruit grower who sees this enemy appear had better hold no parley with it, but cut out the affected parts at once and burn them.

Grapes

See that inside borders do not remain dry for any length of time. Continue to close houses in the afternoon, to afterwards damp down, and to ventilate early in the morning. Vines planted this spring may be stopped half-way up the roof. Those planted a year previously may carry two or three bunches of fruit this season.

Strawberries

It is best to gather Strawberries early in the morning. The beds ought to be in full bearing now. Fill some small pots with loam, sink them in the ground round plants that are bearing runners, and fix the plantlets on to the soil in the pots by means of stones. They will root speedily.