iS 7 t> 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



51 



pollen is dispersed, with water applied 

 with a syringe, for the operation, so far 

 as the cultivator is concerned, is purely 

 a mechanical one. Shut up a succes- 

 sion-house, and keep the temperature 

 from falling below 45° during cold 

 nights, increasing the temperature to 

 50° by the time the bloom is opening. 

 All trees in later houses should now 

 be pruned and tied, the borders top- 

 dressed, and well watered if dry. In 

 the case of young trees planted last 

 year, avoid the too common practice 

 of cutting them back ; if the shoots are 

 ripening, leave them their whole length. 

 The furnishing of the tree with young 

 wood can easily be regulated by time- 

 ly and judicious disbudding, by which 

 so many canker - producing wounds 

 are avoided, and the trees increased 

 into size and a state of bearing in half 

 the time taken in the cutting -and - 

 slashing-back system. Where young 

 trees are to be planted or root-pruned, 

 lose no time in completing the opera- 

 tion, if not already done. 



Figs. — Figs in pots started as di- 

 rected last month will be breaking into 

 growth, and should have the tempera- 

 ture advanced 5° ; and, as in the case 

 of early Vines, let the forcing be 

 chiefly done by day with sun. Keep 

 the atmosphere moist by syringing the 

 plants, the surface of the bed, and the 

 paths, taking care that they are never 

 allowed to become dry at the root. 

 Look over them at intervals, and rub 

 oft' superfluous buds ultimately, just 

 leaving enough to furnish the plants 

 without crowding. Figs grown in re- 

 stricted inside borders may be started 

 at the end of the month at 50° at night. 

 Give the border a thorough watering 

 if dry, and syringe the trees two or 

 three times daily. 



Melons. — Sow for an early crop 

 about the middle of the month, in a 

 temperature of 70°. To prevent any 

 check from transplanting or "potting- 

 off," sow a few seeds in 4-inch pots 



half filled with soil, and thin out the 

 plants to one in each pot. As soon as 

 they show the rough leaf, commence 

 to add to the surface of the soil till the 

 pot is nearly full. Pure loam is the 

 best soil to sow in. Keep them near 

 the glass in a light house, and give air 

 regularly to keep the plants stocky, 

 but beware of exposing to frosty cur- 

 rents of air. 



Cucumbers. — Sow and treat the 

 young plants as directed for Melons. 

 Plants that have been bearing through 

 the winter will now be the better tor 

 being stimulated as the light increases. 

 A mulchiDg of old mushroom - bed 

 dung, and a little loam mixed with it, 

 is a good top-dressing for them ; and an 

 occasional watering with clear soot or 

 guano water puts colour and substance 

 into the foliage. Keep the tempera- 

 ture at from 65° to 70° at night, with 

 a rise of 10° by day. Increase the 

 moisture in the air as the light in- 

 creases. Should any signs of mildew 

 appear, use Speed's Eradicator, which 

 is the most instantaneous remedy for 

 mildew we ever used. 



Strawberries in Pots. — Very early 

 plants will come into bloom this month, 

 and if much fire-heat is used, they will 

 not set well. 50° in cold, and 55° in 

 mild nights, ought not to be exceeded. 

 Do not expose the blossoms to currents 

 of cold air ; and if necessary, fix some 

 hexagon netting or perforated zinc over 

 the ventilating openings to prevent 

 such. Do not stand plants in saucers of 

 water ; and if anything be placed under 

 them, let it be cocoa - nut fibre or a 

 thin strip of turf. When set, raise 

 the temperature 5°, and run up the 

 house to 75° with sun-heat at shutting- 

 up time. Introduce more plants into 

 heat. Peach-houses shut up for forc- 

 ing are good places for them, if there is 

 not the convenience of a pit or house 

 that can be devoted exclusively to 

 Strawberries. 



^atxctB to &oxxzs$oixbmiB. 



All business communications and all Advertisements should be addressed to 

 the Publishers, and communications for insertion in ' The Gardener ' to David 

 Thomson, Drumlanrig Gardens, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. It will further 

 oblige if all matter intended for publication, and questions to be replied to, 

 be received by the 14th of the month, and written on one side of the paper 



