19: 



THE GARDENER. 



[April 



there happen to be a few plants con- 

 Biderably in advance of the rest, it is 

 best to remove them, if possible, to 

 another compartment, where they can 

 have more air and a dry atmosphere. 

 This allows of a moist atmosphere 

 being kept up for the benefit of tbose 

 that may have yet a few weeks between 

 them and the colouring point ; where 

 those ripening cannot be removed, a 

 compromise must take place. Tliose 

 that started early in February will 

 now be swelling fast. As April is gene- 

 rally a changeable month with cold 

 nights, I do not I'ecommend much in- 

 crease of temperature over that recom- 

 mended for March ; 75° when the nights 

 are mild, and 70° when cold is sufficient. 

 The forcing should be accelerated by 

 day with sun - heat. They should be 

 shut up soon after three o'clock ; get a 

 gentle dewing overhead through a fine 

 rose — avoid heavy syringings, which keep 

 the soil in an unhealthy puddle. The 

 temperature may rise to 90° for an hour 

 or two. The fires, which should be low 

 during day, require to be quickened 

 early in the afternoon, so as to keep 

 the heat from falling below the point 

 named at 10 p.m. Although the sun 

 has now considei'able power, it is not 

 desirable to give a great increase of air. 

 Instead of this, it is better to frequently 

 sprinkle the paths and walls, and keep 

 the steaming-trays full. With such 

 treatment the fruit will swell rapidly. 

 Watering must be carefully attended to, 

 aiming at just keeping the soil moist 

 but not wet; water every time that they 

 require it with guano -water just col- 

 oured with guano. The best way is to 

 mix some fresh guano in a pot full of 

 water, making it strong, and to put a 

 little into the water as it is applied to 

 the plants. Put a little into the eva- 

 porating-troughs twice a- week. As soon 

 as suckers appear, remove them all ex- 

 cept two on each plant ; and if gills or 

 suckers appear on the fruit-stalk, remove 

 them all at once. If bottom-heat is sup- 

 plied to succession stock shifted in March 

 from tan and leaves, keep a watchful eye 

 on the ground thermometer ; and if it 

 goes above 90°, give each pot a shake 

 from side to side, so as to leave an open- 

 ing all round the pots for the escape of 

 the heat. Although the roots may not 

 have reached the sides of the pots, and 

 may not be absolutely destroyed with 

 an over-heat, too much bottom-heat 

 causes an over-rapid growth early in 

 the season, which is very undesirable, 



and the consequence of which, in the 

 absence of fall summer light and air, is 

 an attenuated sickly growth. Towards 

 the middle of the month it is generally 

 necessary to water these, as the roots 

 will be taking possession of the fresh 

 soil, which will be getting dry. The 

 inexperienced should carefully examine 

 the state of the soil, and apply water 

 when the soil becomes dry a few inches 

 from the surface of the ball. Rain- 

 water is of course the best, and should 

 always be given at from 80° to 85°, As 

 they show signs of growth give more 

 air, and always early in the day, so that 

 sun -heat can be husbanded for the 

 early part of the night instead of vio- 

 lent firing. Do not increase the night 

 temperature much over that recom- 

 mended for March— 70° at 10 p.m., to 

 drop to 65° in the morning. When the 

 days are bright avoid by all means 

 having the hot-water pipes hot by day 

 while full air is on. There is nothing 

 so injurious to Pines as a scorching sun, 

 a blazing fire, and a maximum amount of 

 air ; such a state of things drives every 

 particle of moisture out of the pineries, 

 and literally dries up the tissues of the 

 plants.' Keep the steaming-trays sup- 

 plied with water ; but unless once or 

 twice a-week in bright weather, do not 

 syringe over-head this month. Any 

 young stock that were not found suffi- 

 ciently rooted to shift in March will 

 require to be attended to now, and 

 shifted when moderately well rooted, 

 concerning which operation see direc- 

 tions for ]\ larch. 



Vines.— Where the earliest crop of 

 Grapes is the produce of Vines in pots, 

 they will in many cases be ripe this 

 month ; and as soon as ripe they require, 

 of course, a change of treatment. They 

 will — especially if the pots are plunged 

 — not require so much water, as neither 

 the fruit nor matured foliage can make 

 use of so much. They require just 

 sufficient to keep the fruit "plump" 

 and the foliage healthy — a superabund- 

 ance will give watery Grapes. The 

 house will require to be kept cooler and 

 drier than when they were being forced 

 on ; and while cold currents of air must 

 still be avoided, a little air must be left 

 on all night, in amount sufficient to pre- 

 vent moisture condensing on the fruit. 

 Crops that have arrived at the colour- 

 ing point should have a decreasing sup- 

 ply of moisture in the air, and an in- 

 creasing amount of air as the colouring 

 and ripening processes go on. It often 



