Cottage gardener and country gentleman's companion Volume 2 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 Excerpt: ...on any other plant or crop which may be contiguous to them. We will return to strawberry culture shortly; we have not space at present, and very much remains to be said. Alpine Strawberries.--Let all runners be cut clean away, and the plants receive liberal waterings, using liquid manure occasionally. It will be well to lay slates or tiles beneath them shortly; and, before doing this, it is a good plan to raise a slight mound of soil around each plant, sloping away from the plant outwards. This forms a slight incline, which Keeps the fruit dry during bad weather in the autumn. A sharp look out must be kept with these, and all other strawberries, in order to keep down mice, which are apt to make sad havoc. Gooseberries.--The aphides are a great pest to the young shoots of the gooseberry; and at this season, if they are much infested, it is good policy to cut off all the infested points, and to burn them. This should be done very early in July, in order that the second growth, which they are almost sure to make, may become matured. Those who can find time will do well to give them a watering of liquid manure immediately aftorwards. Rbd Anu White Currants.--We hope that our advice has been taken in dubbing away a portion of all the watery growths; if not, let it be done directly. As before observed, do not strip it away in order to let the sun shine on the fruit--this is an erroneous notion. By dubbing off about one-third of the points, however, a glimmering of the solar rays will reach the fruit, which will be highly beneficial. If the aphides infest any young bushes, off with the points, as with the gooseberries, and burn them. Black Currants.--Let us beg for one more thorough watering, the moment they change for ripen ing: this will impart much size to the ...