ruit.--AUGUST. Watch the fruit on the wall trees, and
keep off the devourers, of which there will be numberless kinds swarming
about them during this month. Send away the birds, pick up snails, and
hang bottles of sweet water for flies and wasps. Fasten loose branches,
and gather the fruit carefully as it ripens. Examine the vines all
round, and remove those trailing branches which are produced so
luxuriantly at this season of the year. Suffer not the fruit to be
shaded by loose and unprofitable branches, and keep the ground clear of
weeds, which otherwise will impoverish the fruit.--SEPTEMBER. The fruit
must now be gathered carefully every day, and the best time for this
purpose is an hour after sun-rise: such as is gathered in the middle of
the day is always flabby and inferior. The fruit should afterwards be
laid in a cool place till wanted. Grapes as they begin to ripen will be
in continual danger from the birds, if not properly watched and guarded.
Transplant gooseberries and currants, and plant strawberries and
raspberries: they will then be rooted before winter, and flourish the
succeeding season.--OCTOBER. It is a useful practice to prime the peach
and nectarine trees, and also the vines, as it invigorates the buds in
the spring of the year. Cut grapes for preserving, with a joint of the
vine to each bunch. For winter keeping, gather fruits as they ripen.
Transplant all garden trees for flowering, prune currant bushes, and
preserve the stones of the fruit for sowing.--NOVEMBER. Stake up all
trees planted for standards, or the winds will rock them at the bottom,
and the frost will be let in and destroy them. Throw a good quantity of
peas straw about them, and lay on it some brick bats or pebbles to keep
it fast: this will mellow the ground, and keep the frost from the roots.
Continue to prune wall fruit-trees, and prune also at this time the
apple and pear kinds. Pull off the late fruit of figs, or it will decay
the branches.--DECEMBER. Prepare for planting trees where they will be
wanted in the spring, by digging the ground deep and turning it well, in
the place intended for planting. Scatter over the borders some fresh
mould and rotted dung, and in a mild day dig it in with a three-pronged
fork. Look over the orchard trees, and cut away superfluous wood and
dead branches. Let the boughs and shoots stand clear of each other, that
the air may pass between, and the fruit will be better flavoured. This
management is