IS79- 



CALKN DAR. 



197 



of free-setting sorts to about the num- 

 ber to be ultimately left for the crop. 

 Disbud all Vines that are just broken 

 half an inch, leaving the strongest 

 buds and those best placed for be- 

 ing easily tied to the wires. Late 

 Vines intended to ripen thoroughly 

 by the end of September without 

 being hurriedly forced should now be 

 shut up and started, taking care that 

 inside borders are thoroughly watered 

 first. In the case of oldish vines, give 

 the borders outside and inside a good 

 top-dressing of bone-meal, and over it 

 two or three inches of substantial farm- 

 yard manure. 



Peaches. — The earliest Peaches, 

 when stoned and swelling freely, may 

 have the temperature advanced to 65° 

 at night during mild weather, and 

 especially when the house can be shut 

 up with sun-heat ; but when cold 

 windy nights occur, 60° is high 

 enough. See that the inside border 

 is properly supplied with water ; and 

 in the case of oldish free-bearing trees, 

 apply liquid-manure. Let the mois- 

 ture of the atmosphere be increased in 

 proportion to light and heat, and syr- 

 inge the trees freely every tine after- 

 noon at shutting-up time. Examine 

 the trees carefully, and see that they 

 are neither over-cropped nor too thick 

 of young wood, and remove all super- 

 fluous growths, so that what is re- 

 tained and tied to the trellis has plenty 

 of room. Disbud and pinch young wood 

 in succession-houses ; thin the fruit 

 also, and do not let greenfly get a 

 footing. We have known Peach 

 crops destroyed in cool houses by 

 April frosts, and means should be 

 taken to prevent this by putting a 

 little heat into the pipes — or where 

 there are no pipes, by partially or 

 wholly covering the glass with canvas. 

 If mildew appears on trees in any 

 stage of growth, dust them with flower 

 of sulphur. 



Figs.— Never allow trees producing 

 early crops in pots to get very dry at 

 the root, and supply them with rich 

 top-dressingaud liquid-manure. Pinch 

 the shoots intended to produce a 

 second crop at the sixth or seventh 

 joint, and remove all young growths 

 that are weakly, and are likely to 

 crowd the trees. The temperature 

 recommended for Peaches is suitable 



to the early Fig crop. If not already 

 done, mulch established free-bearing 

 trees in limited inside borders with 

 manure, and keep them moist at the 

 root. The Fig is a moisture - loving 

 plant, and should be freely syringed 

 every fine afternoon, till the fruit be- 

 gin to ripen. 



Melons. — As soon as a full crop is 

 set on the earliest plants, increase the 

 moisture in the air, and if dry at the 

 root give a good watering. Keep the 

 night temperature at 68° or 70°, and 

 shut up with the glass at 85° for a 

 short time on fine afternoons. Give 

 air rather freely every favourable 

 opportunity, so as to produce a stiff 

 vigorous foliage. Impregnate those in 

 bloom at mid-day, when the pollen is 

 in good condition. Stop the growths 

 one leaf beyond the fruits. Sow and 

 plant out for succession crops. A 

 stronger loam may now be used than 

 earlier in the season. 



Cucumbers. — Mulch those in full 

 bearing with horse - droppings or old 

 mushroom-bed manure, and look over 

 them several times weekly, stopping 

 young shoots at every joint, and remov- 

 ing all deformed fruits and any old 

 foliage that is crowding the newer. 

 Shut up early in the afternoons, and 

 syringe the foliage several times 

 weekly. Be careful to keep a moist 

 atmosphere and a sharp look-out for 

 thrip and red-spider. The night tem- 

 perature will be sufficient at 70 . 

 Attend to more recently - planted 

 crops as directed in former Calendars. 



Strawberries in Pots. — Remove to 

 cold frames all plants from which the 

 fruit is all gathered, to be thoroughly 

 hardened off before being planted out. 

 Subject colouring fruit to a free circu- 

 lation of dry warm air. Thin the 

 fruit from the trusses of those which 

 are beginning to swell : a temperature 

 of 65° at night is high enough for those 

 swelling off. Those in bloom set bet- 

 ter at a temperature of from 55° to 60°. 

 After this season it is a good plan to 

 stand the pots of plants in all stages 

 in pots of the same size, half filled with 

 equal portions of loam and rotten dung. 

 Introduce more plants into heat, and 

 put all remaining stock in cold pits or 

 frames, where they will now grow 

 freely by the aid of husbanded sun- 

 heat. 



