CALENDAR. 2/9 



air regularly, more or less, according to the -weather, to pre- 

 vent the young growths from becoming weak and the foliage 

 thin and tender. As soon as the growths grow to five or six 

 joints, pinch the points out of them, or squeeze them firmly 

 between the finger and thumb to stop growth, without causing 

 them to bleed. Start later trees. 



Strawberries. — If all has gone on well, these will now be 

 an interesting crop, and one that wiU be most acceptable at 

 table, as a companion dish to late grapes and early pine- 

 apples. Attend carefully to what was said about crops that 

 are swelling off and colouring, "Where they are coming into 

 bloom, on the shelves of pine-stoves or cucumber-houses, 

 where a high temperature and moist atmosphere are requisite 

 for pines and cucumbers, it is a good plan to move the straw- 

 berries into a peach-house or vinery, where the night heat does 

 not range above 55° to 60°. Strawberries set more certainly 

 at that temperature than with 10° higher ; and when set, they 

 can be moved back into their warmer quarters. After they 

 are set, put suocessional lots of plants into peach-houses and 

 vineries that are being started with fire-heat. Green-fly and 

 red-spider must never be allowed a footing. 



Melons. — Those planted last month will be growing 

 freely now. Train them carefully as they advance. 

 Water sparingly at the roots, and supply only a moderate 

 amount of moisture to the air. The night temperature 

 should not range more than 70°. Give air on all favourable 

 opportunities. To grow melons in spring with a very high 

 temperature, and much moisture and little air, ruins them, 

 by causing them to make weak growths with thin sickly 

 foliage. Plant out succession crops as previously directed, 

 and sow more seed both at the beginning and end of the 

 month. 



Cucumbers. — Do not exceed 70° at night for the present. 

 Cucumbers require more moisture at the root and in the air 

 than melons, and soon suffer if they are allowed to become 

 dry at the root. If sudden bright sunshine succeeds a few 

 days of dull weather, they will flag, and should not be allowed 



