MONTHLY CALENDAR. 475 



syringe frequently, but not during bright sunshine, unless the shading is im* 

 mediately put on. Young plants growing fast will require liberal waterings, 

 . in addition to air in large quantities by day : the temperature will allow 

 them to have a good portion by night. During hot weather forced fruits of all 

 descriptions will be benefitted by this practice. 



1454. About the second week, the plants selected in the spring for autumn 

 and winter fruiting will be showing fruit ; and if they are in a pit by them- 

 selves, will require, if a steady bottom-heat is kept up, but little attention for 

 some time, except slight shading, plenty of air, and a liberal allowance of 

 water. On no account let the i^lants be wetted while in bloom. Some pines 

 having large flowers, as the Jamaica, &c., frequently cut up with black spots 

 in the middle, although apparently sound outside, which arises from a 

 small quantity of water passing through the bloom to the fruit-cells, and 

 causing the latter to decay. 



1455. ■'^st succession plants have abundance of air day and night, to 

 encourage a stocky gi*owth. "Where it is intended to plant out the fruiting 

 stock for next yeai', a sufficient quantity of loam, peat, and sand, should be in 

 readiness for use. Directly the present crop is cut, the stump should be 

 cleared out, and either all, or part of the soil, removed, according as it may 

 appear exhausted. 



1456. As soon as the principal part of the present crop is ripe, the pit will 

 most likely be required either for fruiting the winter stock, or for the succes- 

 sion intended for next season's fruiting. Whatever fruit, therefore, may yet 

 remain to ripen, should be carefully removed to one end of the pit, imless cir- 

 cumstances enable you to transfer them to a house devoted to fruiting the 

 autumn and winter supply, in which case the house may be cleared whenever 

 the principal part is cut. The bottom-heat must be freshened up by the addi • 

 tion of fresh material, and made ready for plunging the new stock of plants 

 as they are placed in their fruiting-pots. 



1457. In the mean time advantage should be taken of putting the house in 

 repair, if requisite, and the heating apparatus in a state of efficiency, as no 

 such favourable opportunitj' will occur again for a twelvemonth. Give air 

 liberally to successions, and water freely when the pots become full of roots. 

 Keep the bottom-heat steady. At this season the young stafi" may be potted 

 ■whenever they require a shift. 



1458. Figs swelling ofi" their second crop should be assisted with liquid 

 manure freely, more especially if growing in pots or tubs. As the fruit 

 ripens, care must be taken to preserve them from damp, which the frequent 

 syringing to keep down insects induces ; it should, therefore, be a rule to look 

 over and pick the ripe fruit everj"- morning, and syringe directly afterwards : 

 admit air freely, and pinch out the points of the young wood when grown 

 sufficiently long. This will assist the swelling of the fruit, and produce useful 

 spurs for bearing next year. It should be a rule to manage figs during the 

 summer, that nothing further than a slight thinning-out should be wanted in 

 the winter pruning. 



