146 



THE GARDENER. 



[March 



Figs. — Increase the heat in houses 

 started last month to GO^ at night ; and 

 if, as is often tlie case, the second crop 

 is of more importance than the tirst, 

 do not let the tirst crop be too heavy, 

 more especially on trees in pots. 

 Water must be regularly supplied to 

 those in pots, as they expand their 

 foliage and swell their fruit. Keep 

 the air moist by sprinkling the paths, 

 and syringe the trees freely on the 

 afternoons of line days. Pinch the 

 fruits out of the young- shoots at the 

 fourth or fifth joint. Do not allow 

 more young growths and foliage than 

 is just sufficient to furnish the trees 

 without crowding them. Old trees 

 that have well iilled inside borders 

 with their roots, require to be liberally 

 supplied with manure-water. 



Melons. — Those planted out last 

 month will be growing freely. Water 

 moderately at the root, and mould them 

 up by degrees, applying a few inches 

 of soil as the roots appear at the sides 

 of the ridges. Let those that are 

 trained near the glass in Melon-houses 

 grow to within a foot of the top of the 

 house before stopping them. Let the 

 air moisture be moderate until they 

 show fruit on their lateral growths. 

 Give more or less air daily, and keep 

 the night temperature at 70". Plant 



out those sown last month in stronger 

 soil than is desirable for very early 

 crops. Sow f ( )r succession-crops at the 

 beginning and end of the month. 



Cucumbers. — Look over free-grow- 

 ing })lants every two or three days 

 and stop them at every joint. Pemove 

 all deformed fruit, and do not let them 

 bear too many at a time. After a season 

 of dull weather, shade slightly for a 

 time in the middle of the day. Range 

 the night temperature about 70°, and 

 shut up with 15° more from sun-heat 

 in the afternoon. Water those in full 

 bearing with manure-water, and top- 

 dress with fresh loam and horse-drop- 

 pings. 



Strawberries in pots. — Thin off all 

 abortive blooms and small deformed 

 fruits on those swelling their fruit. 

 Let them have a night temper- 

 ature of 65°. Syringe twice or thrice 

 weekly on fine days, and give air freely 

 in the early part of the day. When 

 they are in bloom, range the tempera- 

 ture from 55° to G0°, and give air more 

 or less every day, but avoid exposing 

 them to currents of frosty air. Put 

 more plants into heat every ten or 

 fourteen days, according to stock and 

 space. See that in all stages they are 

 not allasved to become over- dry at the 

 root. 



Itotras to ^oxxzBi^QiixhmtB, 



All business communications and all Advertisements should be addressed to 

 the Publishers, and communications for insertion in the * Gardener ' to David 

 Thomson, Dnimlanrig Gardens, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. It will further 

 oblige if all matter intended for publication, and questions to be rejilied to, be 

 forwarded by the middle of the month, and WTitten on 07ie side of the paper 

 only. It is also requested that wn-iters forward their name and address, not for 

 publication imless they wish it, but for the sake of that mutual confidence 

 which should exist between the Editor and those who address him. We decline 

 noticing an7j communication which is not accompanied with name and address 

 of writer. 



We have to thank several friends for their communications duly received, 

 and regret that want of space compels us to postpone their publication till next 

 month. 



C. S. — The creepers to which you refer, especially the Mandevillea, will bring 

 red-spider on your Vines. Camellias may be grown on the back wall of your 



