143 Horticultural Operations for March. 



three seedling cinerarias. From P. Barnes, a plant of Pimelia Niepper- 

 giana, new, with white flowers, very handsome. 



Fruit: From the President, fine Columbia pears. From S. Downer, Jr., 

 very fine Easter Beurrfe pears. 



HORTICULTURAL OPERATIONS 



FOR MARCH. 

 FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



After the severe cold weather of January, the weather became more 

 moderate, and the early part of last month was exceedingly pleasant and 

 mild, which accelerated the thawing of tlie snow ; this was followed on the 

 10th with a warm southerly rain, which nearly took off the remaining 

 portion ; but on the 12th it was cooler, with an addition of an inch or two 

 of snow, a sufficiency, with what remained, to still keep the ground from 

 the danger of being penetrated by frost. This milder weather and more 

 sunshine has been exceedingly favorable to early forcing, and for the past 

 three weeks vines have come forward rapidly, and now look in fine condition. 



Grapes, in the early vinery, will now be out of flower and swelling 

 their fruit. See that the laterals are all carefully tied out to the trellis and 

 stopped at one or two joints beyond the fruit ; two is better if the vines are 

 a fair distance apart, but only one if they are crowded for room. Give air 

 moderately, but not so as to admit cold draughts. Keep the house well 

 watered in good clear weather, in order to render the air mild, genial and 

 suited to the favorable swelling of the fruit. Vines in greenhouses will 

 now begin to break, and must have more attention. Syringe morning 

 and night ; tie up the vines to the rafters no oftener than they break well, 

 allowing the top to depend from the trellis. This will have a tendency to 

 bring out all the " refractory " eyes, and form a more even set of spurs. 

 Raise the temperature very little until the middle of the month, when it 

 should be increased. Vines in the open air, of the hardy kinds, should 

 now be pruned. 



Peaches and Figs, in pots, will now be in bloom; for a succession, 

 bring in a fresh supply. Water carefully and guard against the red spider. 



Orchards may yet be pruned. 



Scions may yet be cut, as we directed last month. 



Grafting may be commenced the last of the month, when there is a 

 great deal to do. Root grafting may now be completed. 



Strawberries, in pots, now introduced to the greenhouse, on a warm 

 shelf near the glass, will ripen their fruit early in May. 



FLOWER department. 



Camellias will now begin to grow, and will require to be liberally sup- 

 plied with water, and occasionally with liquid manure ; syringe freely over 



