28o FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



to do so ; and some thin material, such as tiffany, is best for 

 shading with under such circumstances. Stop the lateral 

 growths, and they wUl show fruit at every joint ; but do not 

 allow them to bear too freely when young. Sow and plant 

 for succession crops. 



APRIL. 



Pines. — Those that started into fruit in the early part of 

 winter will this month ripen and be found very useful when 

 other fruits are generally scarce. As soon as they have begun 

 to colour, give no more 'water at the root ; and if there hap- 

 pen to be a few plants considerably in advance of the rest, 

 it is best to remove them, if possible, to another compartment 

 where they can have more air and a dry atmosphere. As 

 Aprd is generally a changeable month with cold nights, I do 

 not recommend much increase of temperature over that re- 

 commended for March ; 75° when the nights are mild, and 

 70° when cold is sufficient. The forcing should be acceler- 

 ated by day with sun-heat. They should be shut up soon 

 after three o'clock, and get a gentle dewing overhead through a 

 fine rose — avoid heavy syringings, which keep the soil in an 

 unhealthy puddle. The temperature may rise to 90° for an 

 hour or two. The fires, which should be low during day, re- 

 quire to be quickened early in the afternoon, so as to keep 

 the heat from falling below the points named at 10 p.m. Al- 

 though the sun has now considerable power, it is not desir- 

 able to give a great increase of air. Instead of this, it is 

 better to frequently sprinkle the paths and walls, and keep the 

 steaming-trays full. Watering must be carefully attended to, 

 aiming at just keeping the soil moist but not wet. As 

 soon as suckers appear, remove them all except two on each 

 plant ; and if gills or suckers appear on the fruit-stalk, remove 

 them aU at once. If bottom-heat is supplied to succession 

 stock shifted in March from tan and leaves, keep a watchful 

 ^.eye on the ground thermometer ; and if it goes above 90°, 



