i87i.] 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



49 



to grow too strong. Disbud the growths 

 early. We prefer the mixed system of 

 both disbudding and pinching, and have 

 observed that blooms on ?purs are not 

 80 subject to drop oflf, and generally set 

 better than on long young growths — 

 especially if not well ripened. In forc- 

 ing, begin with a low temperature — -45° 

 during cold nights, increased to 55° 

 when in bloom, is sufl&cient, with 10° 

 more by day with sun, and give air on 

 all favourable occasions to strengthen 

 both wood and bloom buds, 



Figs.— Where early Figs are grown in 

 pots, now is a good time to start them. 

 They do best when plunged in a bed of 

 warm leaves, giving a bottom-heat of 

 about 80°. The temperature of the air 

 should be the same as that recommend- 

 ed for Peaches. Keep them regularly 

 moist at the root, and syringe them 

 every fine afternoon, and otherwise keep 

 the atmosphere moist. Should any of 

 the plants require larger pots, shift them 

 when put into heat; and those which 

 have been for a few years in large pots 

 will be the better for being turned out 

 of them, and the crocks removed from 

 among the roots at the bottom; the roots 

 cut back sufficiently to allow of 3 inches 

 fresh soil at the bottom of the pots, 

 and top-dress the ball with horse-drop- 

 pings. Brown Turkey and Raby Castle 

 are excellent early-forcing varieties. 



Strawberries in pots.— A number 

 of these, according to the demand and 

 space, should be put into heat every 

 fortnight. Keep them near the glass, 

 and begin with a temperature of 45° to 

 50° at night, increasing it to 55° by the 

 time they show their trusses of bloom. 

 Early-started crops now in bloom range 

 from 55° to 60°, according to the weather. 

 Give them a liberal supply of fresh air, 

 but avoid currents of cold air passing 

 over them. In all stages Strawberries 

 require to be kept moist at the root, but 

 are best not placed in saucers till the 

 fruit are set, when they will do well 

 with saucers under the pots, and a tem- 

 perature of 65° at night, with 75° to 80° 

 with sun by day. 



Cucumbers. — Those that have been 

 bearing through the winter require a 



night temperature of 65° to 70°, accord- 

 ing as the weather is cold or mild. If 

 in low pits in houses, cover the glass at 

 night iu preference to hard filing ; give 

 more or less air daily, according to the 

 state of the weather ; and keep the soil 

 moderately moist, increasing the supply 

 of water and the moisture of the air as 

 the days lengthen. Do not allow the 

 leaves and young growths to become 

 crowded, nor the plants to bear too 

 much fruit at one time. Sow seed for 

 succession crops in a temperature of 

 70°. Keep them near the glass as soon 

 as the young plant appears. A good 

 way is to sow two or three seeds in a 4 

 or 5 inch pot, half-filling the pots with 

 light loamy soil, and as soon as the plants 

 grow above the rims of the pots, to earth 

 up the planrs : in this way no check is 

 sustained. If to be grown on trellises, 

 they should not be stopped. 



Melons.— Sow for early crops in the 

 same way as recommended for Cucum- 

 bers, using a heavier loam. If intended 

 for being grown in the old-fashioned 

 way, in pits without trellises, stop the 

 young plants as soon as the rough leaves 

 are expanded ; but if to be trained to 

 wires like Cucumbers, which is the best 

 way, do not stop them. 



French Beans. — Water those in full 

 bearing with guano and manure-wa- 

 ter alternately. Keep the atmosphere 

 moist, and give air when the tempera- 

 ture exceeds 75°. The night tempera- 

 ture is sufficiently high at 65°. Sow 

 for succession crops. A good plan is to 

 sow in 3 or 4 inch pots, and to shift 

 them into 8-inch pots. Managed in this 

 way, they generally come earlier into a 

 bearing state than when sown in large 

 pots partially filled with soil, and 

 moulded up after they have grown 

 considerably above the mouth of the pot. 

 They can be sown thickly iu boxes, and 

 transplanted, five and six into 8-inch 

 pots, in which to bring their crops to 

 maturity ; and where room in heat is 

 scarce, this is a good plan. In all cases 

 keep them near the glass, and watch for 

 red-spider, which must be kept in check 

 by the usual ways of syringing and sul- 

 phuring. D. T. 



^0tu£S io C0rr^sp0nir^nt^. 



[The Editor begs to thank those friends who have favoured him with their 

 communications, and regrets that want of space compels him to postpone the 

 publication of some of them till February. It will further oblige if all matter 



D 



