24 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [JANUARY, 



opportunity ; maintain a moderately dry atmosphere, and keep the temperature 

 at about 50" to 55"" by night, and 65° to 70" by day, allowing it to rise higher by 

 sun-heat ; see that the inside borders are kept well watered ; start succession 

 houses. — Figs : Begin these with a temperature of 50° at night, and G0° by day ; 

 give air freely, keep a moist atmosphere, and water liberally after they get into leaf. 

 OuT-DooES. — All operations here must depend on the state of the weather. 

 If the ground be frozen and covered with snow, little or nothing can be done, but 

 in the absence of frost and snow, fruit trees may be planted, presuming that the 

 land has been already properly prepared. In planting take care to spread out all 

 the roots, and see that the soil is put in properly about them. On strong soils it is 

 advisable to plant on hillocks raised a little above the surrounding surface, but 

 on thin light soils they should be planted level with or a little below the surface. 

 It is advisable to spread some short litter over the roots. All standards should 

 be properly secured to stakes. Take advantage of mild weather to prune, dress, 

 and nail wall trees ; also to prune Standard trees of all kinds. If not already done, 

 tender Strawberries should have a good mulching of half-rotten dung, to protect 

 them from injury by frost. — M. Saul, Stourton. 



VEGETABLES. 



The operations in this department will be much influenced by the prevaiUng 

 weather. Advantage should be taken of hard dry frosty weather, to wheel or 

 cart the necessary manure on to all vacant spaces. Rhubarb plantations should 

 be well manured, forking the dressing in neatly between each stool without doing 

 injury to any. I object to the customary autumn or early Avinter manuring of 

 Asparagus beds, inasmuch as it seems to retain around the roots an undue amount 

 of moisture, which tends to their decay ; besides, frost will in nowise injure 

 them, if they are not covered by this artificial means. Where vacant plots of 

 ground may not have been trenched up during the last two or three winters, it 

 will be well to perform the operation in all practicable instances ; put a liberal 

 layer of manure at the bottom of each trench before filling up with soil. Those 

 who may not have sown Peas, or Beans, for an early spring supply, should do so 

 as soon as a mild open period occurs ; Carters First Crop Pea and the Earhj 

 Mazagaii Bean are desirable varieties for the purpose ; even if they had been 

 got in in November, those sown about this time will not unfrequently come in 

 only a few days later. 



Cover fresh patches of SeaJiale and Rhubarb in the open ground, to succeed 

 such as have previously been covered ; good crowns of either taken up and placed 

 in a dark mushroom-house will succeed admirably. A successional supply of 

 Endive, and Chicory may be placed in a similar situation, to succeed such as is 

 now coming in. Keep up a supply of Mustard and Cress by successional sowings. 

 A few Earhj Frame or Ash-leaved Kidney Potatos should be drfly exposed by 

 placing them in boxes in a glass structure, and occasionally sprinkling them. 

 Cauliflowers, Lettuces, Endive,, &c., in cold frames should have abundance of air 

 at all times during mild periods, the lights being taken off during dry winds, if 

 not too cold. Prepare a slight hot-bed whei'eon to sow Early Horn Carrot, and 



Wood's Early Frame Radish. Where no proper Cucumber-house exists, prepare 

 the necessary fermenting materials for the early Cucumber frame, and enlist 

 the aid of some horticultural neighbour to sow the necessary Cucumber seeds, 

 in order to supply young plants for planting when the frame is ready, about the 



1st of February. Towards the end of the month sow a little Celery for early 

 spring use in soups ; also White Spanish Onions in boxes, if any neglect has 

 occurred in regard to autumn sowing. Place pots or boxes of Mint and Tarragon 

 in heat for an early supply of green shoots. — William Eaeley, Valentines. 



