iSyi.] 



CALENDAR. 



243 



the roots to be placed in the bed full 

 length. Early plants may be placed in 

 the ridges, when they are ready ; a 

 check of any kind causes premature 

 seeding. Celery ridges at this season 

 are useful for many purposes. Keep 

 ground well loosened between Potatoes, 

 but not injuring the young roots. If 

 the stems have come up very thickly, 

 they may be thinned, and the tubers 

 will be larger. More autumn and early 

 winter Broccoli may be sown; in south- 

 ern localities this may be done to the 

 first week of June. Tomatoes should 

 now be well prepared before planting 

 cut on walls, ridges, &c. (In the south 

 of England they require little better 



positions than Potatoes.) Capsicums 

 well established in pots may be planted 

 out in favourable positions, but pro- 

 tected with hand-lights, &c., for some 

 time. In northern localities a frame 

 may be necessary all the season through. 

 Ridge Cucumbers, if not already sown, 

 may be got in at once ; they often do 

 well when sown in light rich soil on the 

 ridge, giving protection till all danger 

 from frost is past. Gherkins may be 

 treated in a similar manner. Basil 

 and Sweet Marjoram may be sown at 

 the base of walls or other sheltered 

 positions. If the plants are establish- 

 ed first under glass, they will be more 

 useful. M. T. 



FORCING D: 



Pines. — Early-started fruit will now 

 be swelliug rapidly towards mature size; 

 and when it is an object to get them 

 ripe as soon as possible, they may now 

 be pushed on with a high temperature, 

 but let it be principally derived from 

 sun-heat. May is one of the best, if 

 not the very best month in the year for 

 swelling off Pines well and quickly. 

 Generally it is not so hot and scorching 

 as the succeeding summer months, and 

 less air is required, and the pineries can 

 be shut up earlier, be freely supplied with 

 moisture, and a high temperature for 

 a longer period in the afternoons, than 

 is practicable in the hotter part of the 

 season. Taking advantnge of these 

 circumstances, the heat may run 

 up to about 100° for an hQur or two 

 after 4 p.m. There must be a corre- 

 sponding amount of moisture supplied 

 to the air, sprinkling the plants and 

 fruit ; but syringing must not be carried 

 to excess, or the result will be tall un- 

 sightly crowns. When the fruit begins 

 to change colour, withhold water at the 

 root, and keep the air drier. At this 

 season, and especially when more Pines 

 begin to colour at the same time than 

 is sufficient for the demand, I have fre- 

 quently removed them into a vinery 

 where Grapes have been colouring, 

 which retards them without severely 

 checking them ; and the additional air 

 required by the Grapes is also favour- 

 able to good-flavouring Pines. Plants 

 just showing fruit require careful at- 

 tention in the way of watering, and 

 must not be allowed to get too dry at 

 the root, otherwise a serious check will 

 be the result. See that they are 

 supplied as steadily as possible with 



PARTMENT. 



a bottom-heat of 85° to 90°. Smooth 

 Cayennes, and other winter-fruiting va- 

 rieties that have been encouraged to 

 grow since the early part of March and 

 that are now strong, and having well 

 filled their pots with roots, may, towards 

 the end of May, be kept cooler and 

 slightly drier to mature their growth 

 and rest them for a time before starting 

 them. In applying these conditions, it 

 is better to shade lightly for a few hours 

 in the heat of the day than to air more 

 freely, which, in summer, is apt to 

 brown and stunt the plants, instead of 

 resting and concentrating their energy. 

 By the middle of the month succession 

 stock, shifted two or three months ago, 

 will be growing freely and wi.l require 

 great attention. Increase the moisture 

 in the air in proportion to the increased 

 light and progress of the plants ; but 

 avoid heavy syringings, which have a 

 tendency to induce a soft weakly growth, 

 as well as to keep the soil in a puddle. 

 The latter evil is one of the most fatal 

 and common enemies that Pines have to 

 contend with. The soil should be care- 

 fully watched and kept moist, but not 

 wet. Do not allow the temperature to 

 run up too high before putting air on in 

 the morning, and thenputonfuUairallat 

 once. This subjects the plants to the 

 violent fluctuation from a hot vapour- 

 bath to a cud ent of cold dry air. In 

 bright mornings put on a little air at 7 

 o'clock, and gradually increase it with 

 the rising of the sun till 12 o'clock. 

 Let the shutting up be gradual too — 

 reducing the air early instead of leaving 

 it full on till later in the day. Keep 

 the fires low on sunny days. Hot pipes 

 and a scorching sun should never go 



