370 THE GARDENER. [Aug 



manure. Altbougli the plants are at this season in a semi-dormant 

 state, their roots ought to be moderately supplied with water and the 

 soil never allowed to get very dry. 



Early in the year, when forcing commences, water must be copiously 

 given, with occasional syringing over the foliage ; the air also must be 

 kept in a humid state, and all the sunshine going admitted to them ; 

 temperature 50° to 55° for the first week or two, then a rise of 5° more 

 as the month advances. This quiet mode of procedure will secure 

 much better results than severe forcing. We make no allusion to 

 any of those very early forcing sorts which are expected to blossom at 

 the end of the year. When the flowers begin to open, exchange their 

 places for others, and put those flowering into the show-house ; and 

 when they have done duty in the conservatory, return them again into 

 heat to complete their growth, supplying water always without stint. 



What to avoid. — Avoid keeping the plants longer in heat and mois- 

 ture than is necessary to complete the first set of growths, unless wood 

 and not buds is the aim, but rather shift to a cool house and lessen the 

 amount of water given. Avoid putting the plants into some sheltered 

 corner outside to " ripen " their wood while they are yet tender in leaf, 

 which will suddenly put the plants to premature rest, which is sure to 

 cause rusty foliage and shoots without buds. June is quite soon 

 enough to prevent disappointment. At this period they may either 

 be retained in their pots, or, if much pot-bound, planted into the open 

 ground for the time being. A. Keer. 



COVUNT GARDEN MARKET. 



FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. 



Many horticulturists will now be wending their way towards the great 

 metropolis, and those who have not already done so should avail them- 

 selves of the first opportunity to inspect the great fruit and vegetable 

 market of Covent Garden. Here the garden and its produce may be 

 studied from either a cultural or commercial point of view ; and though 

 I often visit " the market," I never do so without adding some amount 

 of knowledge to former experience. A strauier cannot but be sur- 

 prised at the immense quantity of fresh produce brought from around 

 London to this central depot every morning. Huge waggon-loads of 

 Cabbages, Cauliflowers, and Turnips, together with van-loads of decora- 

 tive plants, come in every night, or early in the morning, from the 

 market-growers : while, during the autumn months, fruits such as 

 Apples, Pears, Plums, Gooseberries, and Currants are brought in by 



