1S73. ] GARDFaN WORK FOR MAY. 119 



be in full growtli ; a moist atmosphere, early closing, and careful sliacling are 

 tlie chief secrets of successful culture. Shift on Caladiicms, Clerudeiidroiis, 

 Gesneras^ Gloxinias^ Achiineu.es, Begonias, &c., for stock and furnishing ; also 

 any specimen plant that may require it. Water copiously with water at 80"". 



Pits and Frames emptied of flower-garden plants will now be filled with 

 Chinese Primroses, Cinevdvias, Ilumeas, Lininas, autumn-flowering Zonal and 

 oih.Q\' Pelargoniums and Fuchsias; and the warmer divisions with winter-flowering 

 stove plants, such as Eupliorbia jacqninia'Jlora, Poinsettias, Begonias, and many 

 others ; with late batches of Achiinenes, Gloxinias, Lilies, Cockscombs, Balsams, 

 Celosias, Amaranthus tricolor and salicifolins, and others which are useful in pots ; 

 also seedling Pansies, Auriculas, &c. In fact, pits and frames are about the most 

 useful structures we have. Hardly has one family or set T:)een nursed out of them, 

 than it is followed by another, and so on throughout the season. — D. T. Fish, 

 Ilardwicke, 



FRUITS. 



I?r-DooRS. — Pine-apples : Pay every attention to the summer fruit now 

 swelling. If not already done, remove from the plants all suckers not wanted 

 for stock ; water well when reqiiired, and occasionally with liquid manure ; all 

 the heavy fruit should be supported by stakes, otherwise they will lean down- 

 wards, and the crowns will grow crooked ; watch the bottom-heat, and keep it 

 about SS"^. The whole of the plants intended for fruiting next winter should 

 now bo shifted into their fruiting pots ; see they have a regular bottom-heat of 

 about 85", and in fresh plunging them avoid crowding them. Most of the 3'oung 

 stock shifted in March will now require another shift ; these too should be set 

 thinly apart and not crowded, that they may grow strong and stiff. — Vines : In 

 all houses where grapes are approaching maturity air should be given freely 

 during the day, and a little by night ; keep up a moderate fire-heat, which will 

 enable you to give more air than could otherwise be safely done. In succession 

 houses follow out previous directions ; always attend to the thinning of the 

 berries as soon as possible after they are set. In late houses the thinning, 

 stopping, and tying of the shoots will require attention. — Peaches and Nectarines : 

 Persevere in syringing the trees, morning and afternoon, until the fruit begins to ap- 

 proach maturity, and well wet the borders after closing the houses in the afternoon, 

 otherwise it will be difficult to keep the trees clear of red spider ; give inside borders 

 a good soaking of liquid manure occasionally ; give air abundantly on fine days ; 

 and towards the end of the month a little may be given at night, when the fruit 

 is beginning to ripen ; keep a little fire-heat at the sauae time, as this will im- 

 prove the flavour of the fruit, and also mature the wood. In the later houses, 

 keep the shoots well tied down, and do not retain too many ; thin the fruit as it 

 is needed, regulating the crop to the strength of the tree — a light crop on 

 small or weak-growing trees, and a tolerably heavy crop on large, strong, robust- 

 growing trees. — Figs : When the first crop of fruit approaches maturity, water 

 should only be used sparingly ; it cannot, however, be safely dispensed with for 

 any length of time, particularly with trees in tubs or pots, or otherwise confined, 

 as the second crop, which will now be showing, would suffer. — Cherries: Give 

 plenty of air, and water sparingly as the fruit approaches maturity. After the 

 fruit is gathered, remove the trees out-doors, and see that they are attended to, in 

 being well watered, &:c. — Strawberries : See former directions. — Melons : Never 

 let the bottom-heat get much below nor much above 80" ; give liberal supplies 

 of wator, and keep the shoots well thinned ; plant out for late crops. 



OuT-DooRS. — See to the protection of Wall Trees when the weather is un- 

 favourable ; on mild nights it will not be necessary to put the coverings over 



