1873.] 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



575 



kept in a cool airy place. Cut them 

 now to the desired length. Now is a 

 good time to collect turf for the forma- 

 tion of new borders. To get rid of 

 wireworm, collect it when frozen, and 

 if possible place it under cover to be 

 mixed with other ingredients ; at all 

 events, avoid chopping and mixing it 

 while wet. Young Vines planted 

 last year should be cut down imme- 

 diately they have shed all their 

 leaves. 



Peaches. — If the early trees have 

 been pruned, &c., as directed last 

 month, and shut up for the last fort- 

 night, fire-heat should now be applied 

 to keep the night temperature at 50° 

 in mild weather, allowing it to decline 

 a few degrees when cold. The secret 

 of success in early forcing the Peach 

 is to force cautiously, giving a little 

 air daily, so that the bloom and 

 the sexual organs are strongly de- 

 veloped. These conditions render a 

 good set almost certain under favour- 

 able circumstances. Keep the atmo- 

 sphere moderately moist by sprinkling 

 the surface of the inside borders. The 

 outside border should be managed 

 much the same as directed for early 

 Vines. Prune and otherwise put suc- 

 cession houses in order for forcing. 

 Where young trees are still to plant, 

 let this be completed at once if other 

 arrangements are suitable. Much more 

 depends on the border being in good 

 condition when planting is performed 

 than on planting at any given time. 

 Planting can be successfully carried 

 out from now till the time the buds 

 begin to move outside. 



Figs. — Start plants in pots about 

 the middle of the month, by plunging 

 them in a bottom-heat of from 75° to 

 80°, and giving them a night tempera- 

 ture of 50°. Surface the pots with 

 horse-droppings and loam in equal pro- 

 portions, and give them a good soaking 



of weak manure-water at a temperature 



of 85°. Syringe the trees twice daily, 

 and keep the air moist. Brown Tur- 

 key and Paby Castle are excellent for 

 early forcing. Prune trees planted out 

 in borders. Very little of the knife 

 will be necessary where summer prun- 

 ing and stopping have been properly 

 attended to. But prune now in pre- 

 ference to the barbarous method of 

 tying young wood in great bundles. 

 Where the roots are in inside or limited 

 borders, and trees are old and free- 

 bearing, apply rich top-dressing. 



Cucumbers.— Regulate the heat for 

 these according to the weather, and 

 apply coverings to the glass during 

 cold and windy weather. 68° at night 

 is high enough for the present. In- 

 crease the heat 5° or 8° if dry, and 

 give more or less air daily. If they 

 are grown in soil under which there 

 are hot-water pipes, see that they do not 

 suffer by getting too dry at the root ; 

 and always let the water be at 85° 

 when applied. Avoid heavy cropping 

 at this inactive season. Stop the young 

 growths at every joint. If green-fly 

 appears, kill or remove it if possible 

 with the hand instead of smoking with 

 tobacco just now. Sow for succession 

 in a temperatm-e of 70°. Keep the 

 young plants near the glass, and grow 

 with as little water as possible. 



Strawberries in Pots. — Where 

 vineries and Peach-houses are being 

 started now. Strawberries may be 

 placed on shelves near the glass. But 

 a better place for starting them thus 

 early is on a gentle hot-bed of leaves 

 or tan near the glass in some light pit. 

 Before they are put in heat, see that 

 the drainage of each plant is correct, 

 that the pots are clean, and that there 

 are no worms in the soil. Protect the 

 general stock of plants from severe 

 frost and heavy rains. 



All business communications and all Advertisements should be addressed to 

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

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

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

 forwarded by the middle of the month, and written on one side of the paper 

 only. It is also requested that writers forward their name and address, not for 



