i88i/ 



CALENDAR. 



285 



NOTICE OF BOOK. 



Epitome of Gardening. By Thomas Moore. With an IntrorUictory Chapter 

 on the Principles of Horticulture, by Maxwell T. Masters. Edinburgh : 

 Adam and Charles Black. 



This work was originally written as a treatise on horticulture for the 'Encyclo- 

 paedia Britannica.' It is published in book form, tbe author tells us, with the 

 object of its being useful as a handy-book on horticulture in general ; and to 

 such readers who may not have time or patience to wade through more elabor- 

 ate and c jmprehensive treatises, no doubt this Epitome will be of good service. 

 To write a book like this is, in many respects, more difficult than to write 

 more minute instructions ; and, to do the author justice, he has done his woik 

 very well. His traiaing and experience fit him much better for striking out 

 the more salient points of practice than for minute and discriminating details ; 

 and this Epitome, embracing the formation of gardens, garden structures, and 

 the practical parts of all branches of horticulture in a very condensed manner, 

 will meet the wants of those who require only a few leading hints, and who 

 have time and observation to grapple with and apply the rest themselves. 

 The principles of horticulture by Mr Masters are equally condensed and brief, 

 and we would advise all readers of the book to thoroughly digest them before 

 proceediug to the practical part. 



CTaUnirar* 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines.— Young plants that were 

 shitted into their fruiting-pots three 

 months ago will now have good hold 

 of the frebli soil, and should be grow- 

 ing freely. With the stronger sunshine 

 of midsummer and the full ventilation 

 required, they will need much more 

 water, and should never be allowed 

 to remain dry for any length of time, 

 or they may get a check that will 

 cause them to start into fruit. Con- 

 sequently it is indispensably necessary 

 that the soil be keyit constantly moist ; 

 and every time they are watered, give 

 them weak guano-water, not stronger 

 than two ounces to the gallon, or just 

 as much as well colours the water. 

 The ventilation should now be care- 

 fully regulated, or with the rapid 

 growth the plants ought to be mak- 

 lug they may get drawn, and lack 

 that sturdiness so desirable in all 

 Pine-i)lants. Let the ventilation com- 

 mence as soon as the thernu)meter rises 

 to 15", and increase until by eleven 



' o'clock there is a free circulation of 

 I air about the plants. Let the shut- 

 ting up be done by degrees, clo.-^ing 

 the pits so that with sun the heat may 

 ; touch 85° for a short time. Syringe 

 tbe plants and damp the paths aiid 

 walls at closing time, but do not cany 

 syringing to excess, or the growth may 

 be soft and watery from an accumula- 

 ! tion of water at the axils of the leaves. 

 Just give sufficient tire-heat at night 

 to prevent the temperature from fall- 

 ing below 65° in the early morning. If 

 the pots are plunged in tan-baik and 

 it has shrunk away from the pots, 

 press it to their sides firmly. L the 

 l»lant8 have been placed thickly to- 

 1 gether as a temporary arrangement, 

 they should now be replungtd at 2 

 ! feet apart each way. The crowding 

 ' of Pines thickly together is a great 

 evil. An effort should be made to get 

 j {dants intended to supply ripe fiuit in 

 I autumn started by the end of the 

 ' month ; and provided they have been 



