THE DAWN OF SPRING 



time, and it is not at all disagreeable ; moreover, the March 

 cones are inexpensive. All seedsmen and florists sell 16-31 

 them. The sizes vary, to suit the size of the house ; if 

 the seedsman is given the length, height, and width of 

 the house, he will supply the proper size at once. If the 

 house is one leaning against a wall, the height of the 

 front eaves and also the height of the back where it is 

 attached to the wall should be given. If the structure 

 is a span roof, the height to the eaves and also to the 

 ridge should be quoted. These figures enable the mean 

 height to be calculated, and if this is multiplied by the 

 length, and the result of that sum is again multiplied 

 by the width, the total will represent the number of 

 cubic feet in the structure. 



The reason why I recommend periodical vaporisation 

 with the cones, is that insects have no chance of spread- 

 ing. They are always kept in thorough subjection. 

 There should be a fixed day for the operation, and it 

 should be entered in the garden diary — the first and 

 third Mondays in each month, or some similar arrange- 

 ment. The course indicated prevents injury to the 

 plants, and saves the cultivator worry and annoyance. 



Fruit 



Continue the work previously indicated for the various 

 kinds of indoor fruit. 



Peaches and Nectarines in unheated houses will pro- 

 bably be in bloom now, and the wires may be shaken in 

 order to scatter the pollen. In dull weather the fertilising 

 powder does not spread so freely as is desirable, and a 

 camel-hair brush should be drawn across the flowers, in 

 order to insure the distribution of the pollen. It is an 

 excellent plan to vaporise the house with one of the cones 

 153 



