FEBRUARY. 



601 



FEBRUARY. 



in the frames ; otherwise it is necessary to 

 make a bed for them. Although it is 

 advisable to get the dung or begin to 

 prepare it this month, it is not desirable 

 to sow the seed till March, and even the 

 third or fourth week is time enough, for 

 these cannot be planted in the open air till 

 quite the latter end of May, unless hand- 

 glasses are used to cover them, and they 

 are planted in a little heat, when they may 

 be trusted out earlier ; but March is quite 

 early enough to raise them. 



Horseradish^ Mint> &e. Some roots of 

 mint may be potted and placed in a hot- 

 bed. Some use them as salads. Horse- 

 radish, dandelion, and chicory may be 

 treated in the same way. All but mint 

 should be blanched by covering from 

 the light, for which purpose flower pots 

 will do. Some parsley roots, potted up 

 and placed in heat, may also be useful. 



Melons. The directions given for cucum- 

 bers apply equally to the, culture of melons ; 

 but, before planting the latter, make the 

 soil pretty firm. Melons require the same 

 temperature as cucumbers, and great care 

 as regards watering ; if too dry, they are 

 apt to become infested with red spider ; if 

 too wet, they are subject to canker. In 

 the former case, apply sulphur, or syring- 

 ing ; in the latter, apply soot about the 

 collar. Set many fruits, but allow no more 

 than two, or three at the most, to swell off 

 at once ; and cut away, or raiher prevent, 

 all superfluous growth, by pinching out 

 every new shoot that is not wanted. 

 Attend well to the application of fresh 

 dung. Nothing can succeed unless the 

 heat can be maintained. 



Potatoes, Frame. It is now a good time 

 to put some potatoes in a little heat An 

 excellent plan is to pare the scil off an old 

 cucumber or melon bed ; add 3 inches of 

 fresh earth, then set the potatoes 15 inches 

 or so apart, and cover with 5 inches or 6 

 inches more earth ; put on the lights, and 



then give a good lining of prepared dung ; 

 this will cause heat, and the potatoes will 

 root into the dung of the old bed and be 

 very fine. Give them plenty of air, but 

 never allow them to get frosted. 



Radishes. Radishes, if sown now on a 

 slight hotbed, will come in much earlier 

 than those in cold frames. 



Seakale. Some families like to have 

 seakale in by Christmas ; but at whatever 

 time it is in request, the process is the 

 same. It may be forced in a frame or pit, 

 or put in pots made for the purpose, having 

 covers to exclude the light, and these pots 

 placed in a frame, pit, or warm green- 

 house. 



Seakale^ Forcing. The most common 

 method is to place seakale pots over the 

 crowns, and cover these pots with ferment- 

 ing dung or leaves. Leaves are the safest, 

 if not in too great quantity, or mixed with 

 grass which is too wet. If stable dung is 

 used, it should be well prepared by turning 

 and allowing the rank heat to pass off. 

 Too great a heat is likely to destroy the 

 crop for the season, and the plants per- 

 manently. If left till March, the open 

 ground culture is best. Then a little sand 

 or ashes placed over the crowns, and bank- 

 ing over as we would earth up celery, is 

 sufficient. When the kale is fit to cut, it 

 will be indicated by the plants. 



Strawberries. Plants in pots placed in 

 heat now will fruit in April ; they will 

 want liquid manure occasionally to keep 

 them in vigour. Plants in cold pits or 

 frames should be looked over often, dead 

 leaves picked out, slugs and other pests 

 destroyed. 



Watering Plants in Hotbeds. Water of 

 the same temperature as the bed is ab- 

 solutely necessary in watering cucumbers 

 and melons, which should be done over the 

 leaves, as well as at the roots, about twice 

 or three times a week, which is as often as 

 they are likely to want it. Still evapora- 



