I88l. 



CALENDAR. 



43 



Although the latter operation was principally mechanical, yet failures often 

 occurred from want of scientific knowledge of the proper principles which 

 should guide them. Mr Doig next drew attention to the subject of pruning, 

 on which, he said, there existed a considerable diversity of opinion ; to the 

 cultivation of stove and greenhouse plants, and the culture of fruit under 

 glass. The Pine-apple was not now cultivated so much in this country as 

 formerly. The rapid communication between different parts of the world 

 enabled the growers, where no glass was required, to produce Apples so much 

 cheaper, and often of superior quality, for the greater part of the year, as 

 almost to drive the home-produce out of the market. After a reference to 

 the growing of Peaches, Figs, and other fruits, flowers, and vegetables, and 

 to the manner in which the debates should be conducted, the President con- 

 cluded by expressing the hope that the meetings of the Association would help 

 to stir up and foster a desire for self-improvement, which ought to form a part 

 of every man's ambition. 



Mr Edward Moir, Newport, then read an able paper on ' ' The Alpine Flora 

 of Forfarshire." In the course of his remarks, he pointed out that the hills 

 and dales of the county contained many of the rarest plants of our British 

 flora. The rare Lychnis alpinus, Saussurea alpina, Maulgedium alpinum. 

 Astragalus alpinus, and the still more rare Oxytropis campestris, all found a 

 home in the Clova mountains. There, by mountain streams and rugged scars, 

 nearly all the genera common to an Alpine flora were to be found. Dried 

 specimens of nearly every plant named were exhibited, which added greatly 

 to the interest of the meeting. 



It was intimated that the business for next meeting would consist of papers 

 on "A Trip to the Rocky Mountains," by Mr William Stewart, nurseryman, 

 Dundee ; and on " Hardy Border Flowers," by Mr Thomas Miln, The Gardens, 

 Linlathen. 



CTaUntrar* 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



In commencing the Calendar for 

 another year, we propose not to take 

 up so much space with every little 

 item of detail as has been devoted 

 to it in former years, but will dwell 

 more at length, month by month, on 

 some important point of culture under 

 each heading. At the same time, 

 there is no intention of passiug over 

 the leading directions applicable to 

 each month. 



Pines. — It has been our practice for 

 many years to keep our whole stock 

 of Pine plants as thoroughly at rest 

 as possible from the middle of Novem- 

 ber till after the first week of Febru- 

 ary, There may be exceptional cir- 

 cumstances in which this rule may 

 be departed from with benefit ; such, 

 for instance, as when, from any cause, 

 the stock of plants of any size are less 

 or more backward than is desired. 



These, if kept near the glass, and 

 plunged thinly in a pit with a direct 

 south aspect, may be kept growing 

 all winter in a temperature of 65°, 

 with air according to the state of 

 the weather ; but, excepting plants 

 swelling fruit, and those being start- 

 ed into fruit, the more they are at 

 rest the better we have always 

 found the ultimate results. In cold 

 weather all young stock and plants 

 that are full -sized should not have 

 more heat than 55°, and when mild, 

 60°. The less fire-heat applied, the 

 less water required ; and the less water 

 required to keep the plants in health 

 the better. The plunging material 

 used for Pines may not be of the very 

 greatest consequence, but some ma- 

 terials are much more convenient than 

 others for the purpose of plunging. 

 In houses where the bottom-heat is 



