276 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



Melons. — Plant out those plants sown last month as soon 

 as they are ready ; keep them at 70° with a steady bottom- 

 heat. Sow for succession crops. 



MAECH. 



Pines. — Continue to apply the directions of last month to 

 those that are starting, and that have shown their fruit dis- 

 tinctly. Keep the soU about their roots moderately moist, 

 especially avoiding a state of mealy dryness at any time — a 

 condition which, now that the sun has more power, and that 

 air has to be more liberally admitted, will check and stunt 

 the young fruit. With increased light, the temperature may 

 safely be advanced to 70° at night, and to 85° for a short 

 time at shutting-up time, with sun-heat. More moisture in 

 the air is also necessary as light and heat increase. When 

 the fruit are done flowering, give a very light dewing over- 

 head with tepid water through a very fine rose. Where 

 there are any pines that are farther advanced, and which it 

 is a desideratum to ripen early, these may now be pushed on 

 with a few degrees more heat than is named above, especially 

 when shut up with sun on fine afternoons. Very hard 

 forcing, requiring highly-heated pipes during cold parching 

 winds, should be avoided, and the mUder weather as it occurs 

 should be taken advantage of for pushing them rapidly on. 

 Colour the water with Peruvian guano for every watering, 

 and pour a little of it into the steaming-troughs. Later-fruit- 

 ing stock, that are intended first to make a growth and then 

 start, should now be kept moderately and steadily moist at 

 the root, and air moisture increased in proportion with a 

 temperature of 65° at night. Generally speaking, this is the 

 month when the majority of autumn-potted suckers require 

 to be shifted into their fruiting-pots. If the suckers 

 show plenty of young healthy roots round' the sides of the 

 balls, they are ready to shift. If they are not in this con- 

 dition, and the soil is in a proper state, leave them tUl 

 they are. My own practice is to shift any time — into pots 



