29fO-. FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



season. Make the bed of soil firm, but not too smootli on ■ 

 the surface, or it will become caked, and not eiasily penetrated 

 ■with water when it is applied. Stop them when they reach , 

 within 8 or 9 inches of the side of the frame, and the lateral 

 growths will show fruit. Stop the laterals one joint beyond 

 the fruit, and avoid overcrowding with wood and foliage. 

 Sprinkle advancing crops on fine afternoons at shutting-up 

 time, except where the fruit are setting. Keep those that 

 are ripening dry, and give plenty of air, so as to get the fruit 

 as high-flavoured as possible. Sow at the beginning and end 

 of the months for successional and late crops. 



Cucumhers. — Now is a good time to plant out a quantity 

 of plants for late summer and autumn supply. In England 

 they do weU enough in frames after bedding-plants are 

 turned out ; but in Scotland it is necessary to have them 

 where there is a command of artificial heat, or mildew wiU 

 ruin them. 



Strawberries in Pots. — These will now be nearly over, and 

 any that are now to ripen may be removed to cold pits and 

 frames, where they can stand on a cool bottom, otherwise 

 red-spider wiU not be easily kept in check. As soon as 

 runners can be had, lay the necessary stock for another year's 

 forcing. For early forcing, make a point of having them 

 shifted into their fruiting-pots the first week of July. 



JULY. 



Pines. — Should the weather be such as horticulturists like 

 and generally expect in July, the necessity for using fire- 

 heat, to keep temperatures sufficiently high for pines in all 

 stages of growth, will be in some localities superseded by the 

 more natural and invigorating heat of the sun. At the same 

 time, if a period of dull, wet, and comparatively cold weather 

 should occur, careful attention must be paid to the atmos- 

 phere of all pine - pits. The pipes should be heated so as to 

 keep the atmosphere from becoming stagnant, and from sink- 



