45 o Monthly Calendar of Work. 



Provide or make labels, stakes, ladders, etc. 



Grapes in early heated houses will now begin to swell their buds, 

 and should be syringed night and morning. A temperature of 50 

 or 55 at night is enough for the first fortnight. Thin the bunches, 

 but do not handle the berries. 



MARCH. 



Finish all uncompleted work mentioned for two past months. 



Head down budded trees in the nursery rows before the buds 

 have begun to swell. 



Prune hardy grape-vines. Start grape eyes or cuttings, as de- 

 scribed on p. 381. 



Graft the cherry very early to prevent failure. Graft plums nearly 

 as early. 



Plant cherry stones as soon as the ground thaws, as they sprout 

 early. 



Shorten back peach trees, as described on p. 94. 



In grape-houses, grapes under fire heat will need constant atten- 

 Jjon. Pinch laterals, thin bunches if too many, and give air and 

 plenty of water. In colder houses (or green-houses), the leaves will 

 commence expanding, and should be syringed daily till fully out. 



APRIL. 



Prepare for setting out trees, p. 54. 



Shorten back before the buds expand, pp. 59, 81. 



Transplant strawberries, p. 412. 



Uncover grapes, raspberries, etc., very early. 



Set out currant, gooseberry, and quince cuttings as early as possi- 

 ble, p. 29 ; also seedling apples, young pear trees, etc. 



Grafting the cherry and plum should always be done before the 

 buds begin to expand. 



Plant all sorts of fruit-tree seeds on the very commencement of 

 their sprouting, or as soon as the earth thaws. Peach-stones may 

 be left later than others, as they do not start so soon. 



Level down the small mounds thrown around the young trees last 

 autumn, to protect against mice and winds, and spade in winter 

 mulching. 



Manure strawberries. 



Prune old wood out of currant-bushes and spade in manure, and 

 the size of the berries will be greatly increased. 



Uncover vines in cold graperies, and place them in position. 



Pinch in the young shoots of grapes in green-houses towards the 

 end of the month, and thin bunches. Grapes in hot-houses need 

 uniform warmth and air. 



Nurserymen will commence digging and packing as soon as the 

 ground is open, p. 140. 



