MONTHLY CALENDAR. 343 



the days also are longer ; the plants receive more light, and consequently are 

 likely to be more stocky and short-jointed, the dung, however, being well 

 prepared, as formerly described. Much time is saved by raising the plants in 

 pots upon the fruiting-bed already going ; if none are in operation, make a 

 small bed with part of the dung, and cover it with a small frame or hand-glass, 

 as formerly described. Hotbeds at this time of the year are of the greatest 

 importance in gardens where other appliances for raising plants are limited. 

 The most tender plants may be raised from seed, and cuttings of almost all 

 plants strike root most readily in them. 



968. A melon-pit, divided into compartments of two or more lights each, 

 will be useful at this time, and will answer most of the purposes to which 

 frames are applicable. Vegetable marrows, ridge cucumbers, tomatoes, 

 capsicums, chillies, tea-plants, egg-plants, may be sown and raised with the 

 aid of manure, managed as for melons. This is a good time to raise all these, 

 or to pot them and plunge them in the dung, if already raised. 



969. Seakale should, when cut, be removed ; the roots planted in the open 

 ground, if required for increase. 



970. Asparagus should be watered with weak liquid manure; but care should 

 be taken not to overdo it : be rather sparing of stimulants than otherwise. 



971. Potatoes may be tried by sorating away the earth near the collar. The 

 largest tubers are near the surface generally, and may be removed without 

 disturbing the plants, which should be left to perfect the smaller ones : water, 

 if required ; but liquid manure is not necessary. 



972. French leans that are flowering should receive plenty of light and air, 

 and be kept tolerably dry overhead, and tied up to sticks if they hang over : 

 keep the roots moderately moist ; but, if allowed to root through the pots, 

 they will require no other stimulus. 



973. Strawberries will require plenty of water and a liberal supply of liquid 

 manure. While the fruit is swelling, give, if possible, more heat and more 

 air ; if kept close, the fruit is apt to fog or mould without swelling. In damp 

 weather, tilt the lights ; in dry sunny weather, push them down. 



974. Mushroom-heds maybe made out of doors this month. Prepare the 

 dung by turning it over five or six times ; mix a portion of loamy soil with it, 

 and some recommend a sprinkling of salt ; build the bed up in a ridge of 

 4 feet high and 5 or 6 wide ; dig a trench round it to drain it ; beat it firmly, 

 and when about 80°, spawn it by making shallow holes with one hand, 

 thrusting pieces of spawn into them with the other. Some recommend 

 waiting a day or two after making the bed, asserting that the weight of the 

 casing, as it is called, causes a rise in the temperature, which might endanger 

 the spawn. It is as well to be cautious ; case the bed with 2 or 3 inches of 

 loamy soil, rather stiflF, and cover with 6 or 8 inches of clean straw; and to 

 keep this in its place cover it with mats. This will protect it from winds and 

 rain. Mushrooms are sometimes grown in large pots, boxes, or baskets. In 

 either case the process is this :— Prepare some stable-dung as for making a 

 mushroom-bed. When well worked and sweetened, fill the pot, &c., five-sixths' 



