532 VILLA GARDENING PAnx vii 



Peaches. — Withbokl water when the fruit begins to ripen, 

 and give all the air possible, considering the state of the weather. 

 Tie in all young wood, and expose the ripening fruits to as much 

 air and sunshine as possible in order to colour them perfectly. 

 The young wood in the late house must be thinned, so that the 

 young shoots are not less than 5 or 6 inches apart. Gross shoots 

 on standard trees should be pinched to 8 or 10 inches. 



Pines. — Keep up a moist gi-owing temperature ; more water 

 will be required now, both in the atmosphere and also at the roots. 

 Suckers may be taken off and potted for stock wherever they can 

 be obtained. Plants showing fruit shoiUd have a little increase in 

 temperatiu-e ; from 65^ to 70^ will suffice, closing early in afternoon. 

 A little shade shoidd be used on briglit days, from 10 till 3. 



Fkjs. — Top-dress, and give rich liquids; keep the young 

 growth pinched jiersistently to five leaves. The first crop will be 

 ripe and ripening now, and the second coming on in succession ; 

 l)ut they require a good deal of nourishment. Night tempera- 

 tm-e, 65°. 



Melons. — Ripening fruit umst have no water ; plenty of air 

 must be given. Thin out all surplus wood and leaves. Plant suc- 

 cession Melons in frames and pits in rather heavy loam. 



Strawberries. — Plants in cold pits will be coming on now, 

 and shoidd be well supplied with nourishment. Syringe freely just 

 before the fruit begins to ripen, to keep back insects. Late fruit 

 in houses should have plenty of air and water. Continue to thin 

 the blossoms of plants in flower. 



Cape Gooseberries. — Train up young wood, and pinch side- 

 shoots ; they are easily managed. Plant in loam, and train to 

 trellis near the glass. A temperature of 55° will suit tliem. 



Green Ginger. — This is sometimes grown for preserving green. 

 The stock-roots are kept dry, or nearly so, in pots in stove. In 

 February, when the buds begin to start, the old plants are shaken 

 out of the soil and cut up into small sets, which are potted in 

 single pots and plunged in a hotbed. In May, when the bedding 

 plants are cleared out, a pit is prepared, and the roots are planted 

 in a compost of loam and leaf-mould. The crop is lifted in autumn 

 when fidl-grown. 



Cucumbers. — Give liquid manure freely. Maintain a steady 

 bottom-heat of 75^, and a night temperature of 65°. Top-dres'. 

 with fresh compost frequently. Pinch all young shoots one leaf 

 beyond the fruit. Keep a moist atmosiAere, by deluging the 

 paths ; shade when the sun is bright. Sow seeds and strike 

 cuttings for successional crops. 



