534 



THE GARDENER. 



[Nov, 



be also planted in the usual way on a 

 dry border : Mazagan is the one gener- 

 ally sown at this season. These seeds 

 should be sown more thickly at this 

 season than during the spring and 

 summer months, if much rain should 

 fall, or much surface-water should lie 

 about after thawing of snow, it is well 

 to make outlets so that water should 

 pass away rapidly from crops. Celery 

 should have special attention as to 

 this. Broccoli may still be laid down 

 with the hearts to the north to check 

 gross growth : better small heads than 

 risk such destruction as overtook most 

 of the Broccolis last year. Dust soot 

 and fine ashes among young Cabbage 

 crops, to check grubs and slugs ; plenty 

 of lime may be dusted among them, 

 — sliced Turnips and Cabbage-leaves 

 used as traps for slugs. Forcing 

 of Peas in pots ; Radishes in frames ; 

 Carrots for drawing young ; and fresh 

 Potatoes for Christmas, now well for- 



ward in pots,— should have careful at- 

 tention ; plenty of light and air, careful 

 watering and protection from frost, are 

 their chief wants. The thermometer 

 should not fall below 45° for these. 

 Chicory should be blanched in pits, 

 boxes with covers, Mushroom -house, 

 or in any position where light and air 

 can be kept from the plants. Keep 

 Cauliflowers and Lettuce plants in 

 frames and hand-lights growing stead- 

 ily with abundance of air and light : 

 keep the surfaces open and clean by 

 stirring the soil. Asparagus, French 

 Beans, and Tomatoes do w T ell in a 

 temperature about 55° to 60° in ab- 

 sence of sun. Rhubarb, Seakale, and 

 Mushrooms may now be fairly started. 

 Slow forcing gives the best produce. 

 Take in successions according to de- 

 mand. A steady and regular supply 

 is preferable to a glut followed by a 

 scarcity. 



M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — It frequently occurs that a 

 few Pines start into fruit in October 

 and November. These may either be 

 such as failed to start along with 

 others in July and August, or of the 

 most forward of those intended for 

 starting next spring. In all cases 

 it is desirable to treat such plants 

 carefully, especially if they are Smooth 

 Cayennes, Charlotte Rothschilds, or 

 Jamaicas, for they ripen at a time 

 when dessert fruits are comparatively 

 scarce. If possible, let them be put 

 into a division of a Pine-pit by them- 

 selves where they can have as much 

 sunshine as possible, a bottom-heat of 

 95°, and an air temperature of 65° in 

 cold and 70° in mild weather, at night, 

 with a rise of 10° by day with sun. 

 All fruit now swelling off should have 

 a bottom-heat of 90° to 95°, and a night 

 temperature as recommended above. 

 Keep the air genially moist, and the 

 soil regularly damp without being 

 wet. All fruit that begin to colour 

 after the middle of this month should 

 be kept comparatively dry, especially 

 if the weather be, as it usually is, damp 

 and sunless. Large fruit in particular 

 are apt to begin to decay at the heart 

 before they are fully coloured if kept 

 too wet. A little air should be ad- 

 mitted on all favourable occasions 

 where fruit ape ripening. All Queens 



intended for starting soon after the 

 shortest day should be kept dry and 

 quiet. 60° should not be exceeded as a 

 night temperature ; and a few degrees 

 lower will be better than hard firing 

 in cold nights. Put on a little air in 

 the pits when they exceed 65° with 

 sun or fire-heat by day. If the bottom- 

 heat is supplied by hot-water pipes, 

 and the plunging material be shallow, 

 see that they do not get injuriously 

 dry. If the plunging material be 

 moist, and the bottom-heat does not 

 exceed 80°, there is not much fear of 

 over-dryness. Look carefully over the 

 suckers that are well rooted in 6- and 

 7-inch pots every week, and do not 

 allow any of them to get over-dry, or 

 they may get set and start instead of 

 growing on in spring. See that they 

 are not crowded, for if they are, they 

 become "drawn" and weakly, and 

 never do satisfactorily afterwards. 

 Keep these at 60° at night, with 80° of 

 bottom-heat, with a few degrees less 

 when the weather is cold. Recently- 

 potted suckers should have a bottom- 

 heat of 90° and 65° of an air tempera- 

 ture till they are tolerably well rooted. 

 All Pine-pits that can have a covering 

 of canvas or frigidomo put over them 

 in severe frost should have such cover- 

 ing prepared for them instead of hard 

 firing. 



