CALENDAR FEBRUARY. 379 



Forcing Department. About the end of the month, 

 prepare for making up hotbeds for early cucumbers and 

 melons, at least where a pit heated with hot water is not in 

 use. Sow salads, carrots, and kidney-beans on slight hot-, 

 beds. Sow peas in cold frames for transplanting. Force 

 asparagus, sea-kale, and rhubarb, in hotbeds in pits, in the 

 mushroom-house, or in the open garden by covers sur- 

 rounded with lifter. Give air in fine weather, and water 

 sparingly, to the pinery and cucumber pit ; and to other 

 forcing-houses according to the progress of the trees. At- 

 tend to forced kidney-beans and strawberries. Give abun- 

 dance of air to the green-house, conservatory, and alpine 

 frame, but little water. Continue to force roses, kalmias, 

 rhododendrons, and hardy flowers and bulbs, for the deco- 

 ration of the green-house, or to be taken into the lobby or 

 the drawing-room. Most of these ought to be potted and 

 prepared in autumn. 



Flower Garden. Plant dried tubers and bulbs of bor- 

 der flowers, if not done in autumn ; but the planting of the 

 roots of the finer florists' flowers ought to be deferred till 

 next month. 



Transplant herbaceus plants and evergreen shrubs in light 

 soils, if not done in autumn ; also deciduous trees, shrubs, 

 and hedges. Lay edgings in fine weather. 



Sow mignonette, stock, and other annuals, in pots ; sow 

 sweet peas, and a few hardy annuals, on a warm border. 

 Give stage auriculas and carnations abundance of air ; but 

 keep them rather dry, to prevent damping off. 



FEBRUARY. 



Kitchen Garden. Continue to trench and manure the 

 quarters for early crops. Sow beans and peas in the begin- 



