CALENDAR. 2/3 



FBBRUART. 



Pines. — Every gardener "who has to keep up an unbroken 

 succession of ripe pines knows how desirable it is to atten- 

 tively care for all pines that show fruit from October onwards 

 throughout the winter months. All such stock may now be 

 pushed on at an accelerated pace as the days lengthen and 

 the sun gains in power. The temperature at night should 

 range from 70° to 75°, according to the state of the weather, 

 and by day with sun-heat from 80° to 85° before giving air. 

 Shut up early in the afternoon ; and where all are out of 

 bloom, moisture should be increased in the same ratio as heat. 

 The bottom-heat for these shoidd be at a maximum, namely, 85° 

 to 90°. The state of the soil must be carefully watched, and 

 water given to keep it in a medium state of moisture, avoiding 

 mealy dryness on the one hand, and wetness on the other. 

 Do not exceed a temperature of 70° at night in the case of 

 those intended to start in the course of this month, unless it 

 be in very mild weather, when a few degrees more is safe 

 enough without hard firing. Do not be over-liberal with 

 water till the fruit shows itself. Look over them occasionally 

 and examine their centres ; and when the fruit can be dis- 

 cerned emerging from amongst the leaves, see that the plants 

 so started have suf&eient weak guano-water given to moisten 

 the soil through and through. Supposing the early batch to 

 have shown fruit by the end of the month, increase the heat 

 a few degrees. Let it range to 75° on mild nights. Do not 

 much increase the air moisture tUl they are out of flower, and 

 give air a few hours a-day as weather wUl permit. Examine 

 succession plants in small pots, and see that they do not 

 become too dry, and give water enough to prevent their 

 suffering without inducing much growth yet. The night 

 temperature still continue to range at 60°. If it so happens 

 that they are strong and well rooted, or if any portion of 

 them are such, it will be better to shift them into their fruit- 

 ing-pots by the end of the month than to run the risk of 

 their becoming pot-bound, and consequently more likely to 



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