iS8i.] 



CALENDAR. 



every year since. His practice was to sow in a box early in February in green- 

 house temperature, and gradually to harden them off for planting in the breaks. 

 I may say that I saw the several varieties grown in the Chiswick Gardens 

 last season for trial, and can testify as to its superiority over them. Mr 

 M'Arthur received the hearty thanks of the meeting for his splended exhibits ; 

 and after a vote of thanks to the speakers and the chairman, the proceedings 

 terminated. 



THE FROST. 



At Elemore Hall, Durham, there were 336° of frost from the 14th to 

 25th of January. The lowest temperature — 44° below freezing — took 

 place on the 25th, that being the lowest ever registered at Elemore. 



At Brayton Hall, Cumberland, 2° and 4° below zero were registered 

 on the 14th and 16th of January, and the total frost for the month 

 was 440^ 



©aUtttran 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — Presuming that the neces- 

 sary number of early Queens have 

 started in due time after they were 

 subjected to increased temperature at 

 the roots and in the atmosphere, the 

 most of them should be nearly done 

 flowering the first week of this month. 

 True, the severe weather may have re- 

 tarded their progress, but at all events 

 they will soon be ready to push on 

 rapidly. The night temperature, un- 

 less during very cold nights, should be 

 kept as steadily as possible about 70°: 

 and when shut up with sun - heat in 

 the afternoon, 85° for a short time, with 

 a corresponding amount of moisture in 

 the air, will not be too high. It is of 

 much importance that the soil be kept 

 steadily moist — avoiding over-dryness 

 on the one hand, and a wet, sloppy 

 condition on the other. The amount 

 of water required depends very much 

 on whether the pots are plunged over 

 hot-air chambers or in beds of leaves 

 and tan ; in the latter case they do not 

 require nearly so much water. In 

 proportion to the amount of fire-heat 

 required, the atmosphere must be 

 charged with moisture — never allow- 

 ing the air to feel dry when the house 

 is entered. Syringe the plants about 

 the axils of the leaves on line after- 

 noons, when the house is shut up, but 



do not carry this to excess, or it will 

 cause a numerous and unnecessary 

 progeny of young suckers. Use 

 guano and sheep- dung water alter- 

 nately when the plants are watered. 

 Successional fruiting plants intended 

 j to start soon should now have a rise 

 I of 5° by night, say 65° to 70°, accord- 

 ' ing to the weather, with a bottom- 

 heat of 85°. As a rule, these make a 

 growth before starting and yield the 

 finest fruit of the season. Probably 

 the severity of the season may have 

 prevented many from getting the 

 earliest batch of succession plants 

 shifted last month into their fruiting- 

 pots. No time should now be lost in 

 getting this done. Plants that are 

 somewhat later should also be shifted 

 before the end of the month. If they 

 show plenty of young healthy roots 

 among the crocks and round the sides 

 of the ball, they should not be allowed 

 to remain unshifted for any length of 

 time now, or they may start prema- 

 turely into fruit. We always prefer 

 to partially shake out all plants when 

 shifted into their fruiting -pots— pre- 

 serving the roots as entire as possible. 

 Firm potting ought always to be 

 practised in Pine-culture. The soil is 

 generally full of fibre, and with loose 

 potting it holds water like a sponge, 



