i87i.] 



CALENDAR. 



47 



ing, already cleared, to be turned down 

 in the process of trenching, keeping 

 rank material at the bottom, and extra - 

 rotten stuff may be kept under the top 

 spade only. Where Kale or similar 

 crops are almost finished, what are left 

 may be lifted to a spare corner, and the 

 roots laid into the soil. They will do 

 well till used up, and allow the more 

 important quarters to be turned up as 

 desired, thus keeping order in the gar- 

 den, and helping forward with the work. 

 Keep all standing crops free from decay- 

 ing leaves, which will be plentiful after 

 sharp frost. If Spinach has been trod- 

 den much between the rows when the 

 leaves have been gathered, let the hoe 

 or fork be carefully applied to open the 

 surface-soil. Cover Celery with litter 

 in severe weather ; but to prevent it 

 rotting, it should be exposed when 

 weather is fine ; or the crop, where 

 means are abundant, may be lifted to a 

 shed or open outhouse, and placed up- 

 right in sand. This is only necessary 

 where climate and soil are very wet. 

 Peas, for first or succession crops, may 

 be sown on a warm border, covering the 

 seed with warm dry soil ; protect those 

 through the ground. Peas of an early 

 kind may be sown in boxes, pots, turfs, 

 &c., and brought on slowly, to be 

 planted out in March. They can be 

 brought on quickly by heat, and hard- 

 ened off afterwards ; but the slow, hardy 

 method is the best. Beans may be 

 treated in the same way. Radisiies and 

 early Horn Carrots may be sown in 

 frames ; the Radishes sown with the 

 Carrots will be ofi" before the latter are 

 up, thus having two crops from one 

 bed : little heat is required. Potatoes, 

 if already sprouted, may be planted in 

 good light loam, placed on leaves, or 

 any other gentle -heating material, in 

 pits or frames. Frost and cold winds 



should be kept out, but a close dark 

 structure will only give long tops and 

 "little root." Cauliflower, Lettuce, 

 and other vegetables under protection, 

 must have plenty of air and light, and 

 be kept free from damp, stirring the 

 surface-soil frequently. Cauliflower-seed 

 may now be sown in healthy light soil, 

 to be brought forward with plenty of 

 light and air; boxes and pans answer 

 well for this purpose ; they can be re- 

 moved to suitable positions as may be 

 necessary. Tomatoes recently taken 

 from pots, and not quite ripe, may be 

 taken to a dry position, where there is a 

 little warmth. When there are suitable 

 structures, these can be had all the 

 year round, growing them in pots for 

 first and last supplies. Some use pots 

 all the year through, plunging them iu 

 summer. The pot system is perhaps 

 the oldest, and extensively carried out 

 by market-men around London, where 

 this useful fruit can be grown almost as 

 simply as Potatoes. Supplies of Sea- 

 kale, Asparagus, and Rhubarb will come 

 in quickly now, and require mild forc- 

 ing, lifting as many roots at each time 

 as the demand requires. Rhubarb and 

 Asparagus require plenty of light and 

 air, where high colour and fine flavour 

 are objects. Rhubarb covered with 

 manure is inferior to that which has 

 more natural treatment. Supplies of 

 Parsnips and Jerusalem Artichokes may 

 be taken up in open weather, to have 

 plenty when frost and snow prevail. 

 Salads of all kinds, such as young 

 Onions, Mustard, Cress, Chicory, may 

 now be abundant. Weekly sowings in 

 boxes or pans will keep up fresh sup- 

 plies. Chicory will do well anywhere 

 in the dark, and answers well when 

 Lettuce are scarce ; and Dandelion 

 sprouted in this way is no mean salad. 

 M. T. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pines. — Where ripe Pines are required 

 in May and June, no time must be lost 

 in getting the reqviired number started 

 into fruit. For this purpose, select 

 those Queens that have completed their 

 growth early in autumn, and that have 

 been rested by being comparatively dry 

 and cool : give them a night tempera- 

 ture of 70°, except when the weather is 

 very cold, when a few degrees less will 

 be sufiicient. The bottom heat should 

 range from So" to 90°, but never exceed 

 the latter degree, or the roots are likely 

 to sufi'er. If the soil be dry, give suffi- 



cient water at 85° to moisten it, and 

 keep it regularly in a medium state of 

 moisture, and gradually increase the air 

 and moisture as the days lengthen and 

 light increases. When the temperature 

 exceeds 75° with sun, give a little air at 

 the highest part of the pinery, and shut 

 up early in the afternoon. Keep all 

 succession stock quiet. The night tem- 

 perature should range as steadily at 60° 

 as possible. A few degrees less during 

 hard frost or a high wind are safer than 

 a few degrees more than 60°. 75° to 80° 

 is sufficient bottom-heat for those. Avoid 



