MARCH. 93 



Gravel-walks should be swept and rolled frequently in fine weather. 

 Level do^vn, and rake over ground which has been forked up during 

 winter, to give as neat an appearance as possible to this department. 



Forcing. Vines in bloom require a dry temperature, accom- 

 panied by a little extra heat when in bloom, to enable them to set 

 well and form handsome bunches. 65° will be a good average tem- 

 perature, but ;Muscats require 70° to do them justice ; stop the 

 shoots at one joint above the bunch, leaving a leader; if the Vines 

 have been cut back shorter than the rafter, tie down the shoots neatly, 

 and thin the berries as soon as possible after they can be seen, which 

 are likely to swell. Keep the air of the houses humid, by syringing 

 the walls and damping the heating apparatus, when the Grapes are 

 swelling and the Vines breaking. When the weather is mild, give air 

 freely, using more caution when cold or frosty, so as to avoid ex- 

 posing the foliage to chilling currents of air. In the early Peach- 

 house, disbud when the fruit is set, taking off a few of the extra buds 

 at a time to prevent giving the trees a check, leave the shoots intend- 

 ed to form the wood for next year's crop regularly over the tree. 

 After the fruit is set, the syringe should be again put in use on fine 

 mornings, to keep the foliage clean and healthy ; and the air of the 

 house may be kept moister than when the trees were in bloom. 

 Water the inside borders of vineries and other forcing-houses. 

 Strawberries in bloom must be kept fully exposed to light ; those 

 swelling may be removed to more heat, to finish them over; supply 

 with liquid manure, and keep down green-fly by tobacco. Melons 

 should now be ridged out on a nice sweet bottom-heat. Let the 

 loam be free from dung, and moderately strong. Keep a top heat of 

 70° or thereabouts. When the plants have started, pinch out the 

 ends of the shoots, when they will produce laterals, the strongest of 

 which should be selected to fill the frame. Do not permit them to 

 produce fruit till they have a good stock of leaves. Sow for succes- 

 sion. Cucumbers as Melons, only they require-a lighter soil. A moist 

 heat is necessary for both in their early stages. Cucumbers in bear- * 

 ing assist by manure-water and top-dressings, and maintain a steady 

 bottom-heat of 85°. Pines showing fruit, keep dry. Like most other 

 things, a dry atmosphere causes their bloom to open more freely, and 

 results in regular shaped fruit ; water when dry at root, and keep the 

 bottom and top heat steady; 80° to 95° for the former, and 60° to 

 80° for the latter, with air at all opportunities. The young plants 

 will now require shifting into larger pots ; use for growing them, half- 

 rotten turfy loam, to which may be added a little soot or well-decom- 

 posed manure. If the loam is tolerably rich, this will not be neces- 

 sary; plunge in a brisk bottom-heat, and keep rather close till they 

 begin to grow; afterwards, air and light in abundance. Keep sowing 

 French Beans, of which Wilmot's Forcing is one of the best for suc- 

 cessional crops. A pit planted with the above now will produce a 

 valuable crop in April and May, Continue making Mushroom-beds 

 according to the supply expected. Air freely, to give colour and 

 flavour to Asparagus forcing in frames. 



Fuchsias. The first struck young plants should now be pushed 



