269 



THE CALENDAR. 



JANUARY. 



Pines. — Where ripe pines are required in May and June, 

 no time must be lost in getting the required number started 

 into fruit. For tliis purpose select those Queens that have 

 completed their growth early in autumn, and that have been 

 rested by being comparatively dry and cool. Give them 

 a night temperature of 65°, and a bottom-heat ranging 

 from 85° to 90°, but never exceed the latter degree, or the 

 roots are likely to suffer. If the soil be dry, give sufficient 

 ■water at 80° to moisten it, and keep it regularly in a medium 

 state of moisture, and gradually increase the air and moisture 

 as the days lengthen and light increases. When the tem- 

 perature exceeds 75° with sun, give a little air at the highest 

 part of the pinery, and shut up early in the afternoon. Keep 

 all succession stock quiet. -^The night temperature should 

 range as steadily at 60° as possible. A few degrees less 

 during hard frost or a high wind are safer than a few degrees 

 more than 60°. 75° to 80° is sufficient bottom-heat for 

 those. Avoid giving more water at the root than just suffices 

 to keep the plants healthy. When the plunging material has 

 been leaves and tan without hot-water pipes beneath them, 

 I have frequently had pines in the most satisfactory condition 

 without being once watered from the beginning of November 

 to the middle or end of January. All young stock in low pits, 



