i8 79 .l 



CALENDAR. 



243 



often done by the latter, especially 

 when sowing has been done thickly, 

 an evil the inexperienced are liable 

 to fall into. Rich ground demands a 

 greater width between the crops. Keep 

 the hoe at work wherever it can be 

 used. The pronged hoe in good hands 

 does capital service ; but to use so as 

 to pull up young rootlets is an evil 

 to be avoided. To keep weeds down 

 a continued war must be waged 

 against them. Leaving them to get 

 into size and depending on erradicat- 

 ing them is a practice which will 

 always secure abundance of "native 

 plants " in every garden. Among such 

 crops as Seakale, Horse-radish, Rhu- 

 barb, and other permanent roots, 

 neglect of weeds is often noticeable ; 

 but the cheapest and most effectual 

 way of keeping a garden in order is 

 to go over it frequently from end to 

 end. These roots just named may 

 yet be planted if there should be a 

 scarcity of them. Seakale and Horse- 



radish may be planted on deeply- 

 trenched ground and well manured : 

 pieces about 2 or 3 inches long 

 dibbled in answers well ; but Horse- 

 radish may be put in deeply and 

 allowed to grow up strongly, then 

 trenched out for use. Rhubarb divided 

 up into nice crowns and well planted 

 will do well this year and form fine 

 roots : mulching is of much value to 

 these roots. Cucumbers and Vegetable- 

 marrows may be planted out about the 

 end of month on their ridges, using 

 turfy loam to start them. Haud-lights, 

 protectors, cloches, or frames should 

 be used till the plants are in full 

 growth. They may then be mulched 

 and carefully thinned, and watered with 

 tepid water as they require it. Chillies, 

 Capsicums, Tomatoes, and all tender 

 plants raised in heat, should now he 

 hardened off and planted in favoured 

 positions. Prick out and plant Celery 

 as they are fit. M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — Succession plants that were 

 shifted into their fruiting- pots in March 

 and early in April will now have com- 

 menced to grow freely, and require to 

 be carefully managed to prevent their 

 making a soft, attenuated growth. 

 The nights in May being frequently 

 cold, a considerable amount of fire- 

 heat is necessary to keep the minimum 

 temperature at 65°, and such nights 

 being frequently followed by bright 

 sunny days, the fire -heat should be 

 checked early in the morning and be 

 kept as low as possible through such 

 days ; for there is no combination of 

 circumstances worse for Pines than 

 hot pipes, bright sun, and, as a neces- 

 sary consequence, a maximum amount 

 of ventilation. On mild nights the 

 night temperature may range at 70°, 

 after shutting up early with sun-heat 

 for a time at 85°. Keep the atmo- 

 sphere moist during sunny days by 

 frequently damping the paths and 

 other vacant spaces. Give a little 

 air when the thermometer rises above 

 75°, and gradually increase it till noon ; 

 and after 3 p.m. decrease it in the 

 same way until the houses or pits are 

 shut up with the temperature already 

 named from sun-heat. Watering must 

 be carefully attended to ; and while it 

 is very undesirable to keep the soil 

 too wet, it must not be allowed to 



become dry and cling away from the 

 sides of the pots. Give weak guano- 

 water every time they require syring- 

 ing, always dewing the foliage when the 

 house is shut up. If a very bright 

 time succeed to a time of dull weather, 

 rather shade lightly for a few hours 

 than allow the foliage to get severely 

 browned, but do not continue the 

 shade longer than necessary. Earty- 

 started Queens will now be swelling 

 their fruits rapidly towards maturity. 

 Keep them steadily moist at the root, 

 and give plenty of air-moisture, espe- 

 cially when shut up early on the after- 

 noons of bright days, when the heat 

 may be allowed to run up near to 90° 

 for a time. Start the fires in time to 

 prevent the temperature from falling 

 below 75° on mild, and 70° on cold 

 nights. Remove all superfluous suckers 

 if such have been left at the first thin- 

 ning, leaving just enough to give plants 

 enough for stock. Smooth Cayennes 

 and other late sorts for early autumn 

 supply should show fruit before the 

 middle of the month. As soon as the 

 fruit is discernible in the centres, see 

 that they are moist at the root, and 

 maintain a brisk heat with a moist 

 air. Those shifted late last autumn 

 to form a succession to these will have 

 grown freely the last two months, and 

 if kept cooler, more airy, and slightly 



