CALENDAR. 277 



be gathered at tlie end of the month, suddenly to cold ; but 

 harden them off and otherwise care for them till they can be 

 planted out. They wiU yield fine early runners for potting 

 for early forcing, and make fine stools for cropping outdoors 

 next year. 



Cucumbers. — Those that were sown last will be ready to 

 plant out by the middle of this month. Water always with 

 water at 80° to 85°, and keep the night temperature at 70°, 

 giving more or less air daily to prevent spindly growths. 

 Sow for succession crops. 



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. 



MARCH. 



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

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

 tinctly. Keep the soil 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, espe- 

 cially when shut up with sun on fine afternoons. Very hard 

 forcing, requiring highly-heated pipes during cold parching 

 •winds, should be avoided, and the milder weather as it occurs 



