i8 7 9 



CALENDAR. 



49 



they are more easily managed when 

 turned out. This applies to Broad 

 Beans and all other crops brought 

 forward for earliest supplies. Aspara- 

 gus may have manure placed over the 

 rows — that which is to be lifted 

 should be w T ell protected. In low- 

 lying localities there is a danger of 

 destroying Asparagus by heavy close 

 coverings. Prepare leaves and man- 

 ure for beds by mixing them well 

 together, preparatory for forcing early 

 vegetables. Lettuce and Endive for 

 present use may be protected by hoops 

 and mats : a frame placed over a por- 

 tion is good protection. Pot Mint 

 and Tarragon, the forcing of Rhubarb, 

 Seakale, Chicory, and Potatoes may 

 have the same attention as recom- 

 mended last month, keeping up steady 

 supplies as demand requires. A small 

 mushroom-bed may be made often in 

 preference to large beds at long periods. 

 The frequent formation of small beds 

 is more likely to meet the supply regu- 

 lar and proportionate. Tomatoes may 

 be kept growing under all the light at 

 command, giving air whenever the 



weather will allow it. Cold frosty 

 winds must be avoided. Those sup- 

 plying a few fruit must not be over- 

 watered, or kept in a close high tem- 

 perature : rotting at the collars often 

 happens when water has been used 

 freely at the surface, while the roots 

 at base of soil have been starved. 

 j Mustard, Cress, Thread Onions, and 

 j other small salads may have attention 

 I by sowing often, as formerly recom- 

 j mended. Always let them have airy 

 quarters with plenty of light for some 

 ! days before they are sent in for use. 

 This gives flavour and crispness. 

 j Potatoes may be sprouted in gentle 

 I warmth preparatory for planting in 

 i the frames or pits. Those growing 

 in pots must not be coddled or kept 

 far from the light ; neither will they 

 stand cutting frosty winds. French 

 Beans may now be sown for succes- 

 sions every ten or twelve days. With- 

 hold the syringe when they are flower- 

 ing, and sow Carrots of Horn kinds on 

 mild hotbeds : sow Radishes between 

 the Carrots. 



M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — In order to have ripe Pines 

 in May and June, a number of the ear- 

 liest Queens that have been kept com- 

 paratively dry and cool for the last 

 ten weeks or more, and that are likely 

 to show fruit without making much 

 growth, should be placed in warm 

 quarters by the middle of the month. 

 Their pots should be plunged to the 

 rim in a bottom -heat that does not 

 exceed 95°, or fall below 85°, and 

 where the plants will get every blink 

 of sunshine. Presuming that, accord- 

 ing to former Calendars, these plants 

 have been kept at 60° at night, the 

 temperature should now be from 65° 

 to 70°, according as the weather is 

 mild or cold, with 10° more by day 

 before giving air. If the nights be 

 cold and the days bright, let the 

 temperature be regulated accordingly, 

 applying the minimum night and maxi- 

 mum day temperature. The plants, 

 having been kept dry at the root 

 for some time, should have a soak- 

 ing of water at 85°, and be kept 

 steadily moist. In cases where the 

 plants show any signs of continuing 

 to grow instead of fruiting, do not 

 give so much water. The atmosphere 



should be moist, but rot to such an 

 extent as will cause drip to condense 

 on the roof of flattish pits and fall into 

 the centres of any of the plants. This 

 is generally a cold month, and it is 

 not advisable to increase the tempera- 

 tures of succession-pits. Be content 

 with 55° at night ; and when with sun 

 the day temperature rises above 70°, 

 give air for a short time, always shut- 

 ting up early, so as to make it unne- 

 cessary to fire so hard to keep the heat 

 up in the early part of the night. 

 With hard firing, both the atmo- 

 sphere and the soil must be watched, 

 and not allowed to become parchingly 

 dry, or the result may be that young 

 stock well rooted in small pots may 

 start into fruit instead of growth 

 when shifted the next and following 

 months. This is particularly appli- 

 cable to plants supplied with bottom - 

 heat from hot pipes. Beds of leaves 

 to receive those that will be shifted 

 a month or six weeks hence should 

 now be prepared ; so that any violent 

 heating may have subsided to a safe 

 point by the time the pots are plunged 

 in them. Sometime during the course 

 of this month get the soil to be used 



