FEBRUARY. 



602 



FEBRUARY. 



tion proceeds, and it is sometimes necessary, 

 therefore, to make good the consequent 

 loss ; but in watering forcing beds a fine 

 rose should be used, so that the surface of 

 the soil be not beaten down in the process. 

 The water should be of a temperature 

 nearly equal to that of the bed rather 

 above than below ; and if liquid manure is 

 used, it should be rather weak : for aspara- 

 gus and seakale, a little salt, about a tea- 

 spoonful to the gallon, may be advanta- 

 geous. It is decidedly better to water 

 effectually at once than to water little and 

 often, because the latter is apt to keep the 

 surface slimy and soddened, with no benefit 

 to the plants, but rather the contrary. It 

 is advisable to be cautious in watering 

 forcing beds in the colder months, as a 

 properly made-up bed should contain 

 moisture in itself sufficient, or nearly so, 

 to nourish it. 



February. Hothouse, Work in. 



Maintain a temperature of from 60 to 

 65 fire heat. Start first batch of achimenes, 

 gesnenas, gloxinias, &c. Prune plants of 

 allamanda, dipladenia, clerodendron, &c. 

 Pot Gloriosa superba during the month ; 

 it thrives best plunged in a brisk bottom 

 heat. Many ferns, begonias, and other 

 plants should also be potted, and started 

 into fresh growth. Some of the dendro. 

 biums, stinhopeas, and maxillarias should 

 now be watered and pushed into flower. 



forcing pit. This is an indispensable 

 adjunct to a well-kept conservatory, and 

 should now be occupied with bulbs for 

 succession, rhododendrons, azaleas, Ghent 

 and Indian (most of which, especially 

 Azalea Indica alba, force admirably), 

 roses, lilacs, Anne Boleyn ; white and 

 other pinks, carnations, cloves, &c. Main- 

 tain at a genial growing ;emperature ol 55 

 to 65 ; on very cold nights, however, it 

 may fall to 5 or IO with impunity. 



Routine Work. Prepare plenty of good 

 peat and loam, broken potsherds, char- 

 coal, &c., &c., for a general potting of all 

 plants that require it. Hunt for and de- 

 stroy mealy bug and scale, and maintain 

 the semblance of health and reality of 

 cleanliness throughout the whole of the 

 plant structures. 



February. Kitchen Garden, 

 Work in. 



Artichokes^ Jerusalem. This useful 

 vegetable, an excellent accompaniment to 

 roast beef when nicely boiled in milk, may 

 be planted this month. The tubers should 

 be set at a distance of 18 inches apart 

 every way in any piece of waste land or 

 corner of the garden that happens to be 

 suitable for them. It is as well to appro- 

 priate a special piece of land for their 

 cultivation, because when they have been 

 once planted it is difficult to get rid of 

 them, owing to the growing of the young 

 tubers which are left in the soil when the 

 roots are taken up for use. 



Beans, Broad. A sowing of any sort of 

 these beans should be made this month, in 

 order to provide for a proper succession of 

 this crop. About the end of the month is 

 the best time for getting in the main crop 

 of this useful vegetable. They may be 

 planted among early cabbages or between 

 rows of potatoes. 



Beet) Red. This root, familiarly known 

 as beetroot, if sown now, will be very 

 useful in the summer. Sow in drills 9 or 

 10 inches apart. 



Beet, White. This may be sown now 

 for the sake of the leaves, in the same 

 manner as red beet. The leaves are used 

 in summer as a substitute for spinach. 



Broccoli. In time of frost, place a few 

 boughs or some protective medium of this 

 sort over broccoli. The plants should be 

 frequently examined, and the leaves bent 

 inwards over those that are showing bios- 



