534 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
Mushrooms.—Collect horse-droppings free from | reached the sides of the pot, plant in a bed 
litter, and keep them dry for succession-beds, 
some of which should now be formed. Maintain 
in the Mushroom-house a moist atmosphere and 
a temperature of between 55° and 60°; but that 
of the beds may range from 60° to 65°. p 
Mustard and Cress.—Sow successionally in 
moderate heat. 
Peas.—In the beginning of the month sow in 
pots, and forward in gentle heat where plenty of 
air can be admitted. 
Potatoes.—Plant tubers of an early sort, in 
small pots, one set in each. The pots may 
then be piled together in any warm place, 
either light or dark, till the shoots are about to 
appear, when the plants should be turned out 
and planted on a slight hot-bed, 18 inches by 
8 inches apart. Some may also be grown to 
maturity in pots. 
Radishes.—Sow on slight hot-beds, in rows, in 
light, rich soil, which should be near the glass, 
and the frame well ventilated until growth be- | 
yond the cotyledons is developed. 
Rhubarb.—By introducing roots of this into 
the Mushroom-house, constant supplies can, be 
maintained at less cost in labour than if ferment- 
ing materials are used. 
Sea-Kale.—Continue to force this in succes- 
sion. The old practice of forcing it by means 
of pots and fermenting materials in the open 
ground is almost discontinued, single crowns 
being prepared for the purpose instead. Take 
up the plants and place in soil, in the Mush- 
room-house or elsewhere, so that they may be 
in heat and kept from the hght. The supply 
thus obtained will be more certain in bad 
weather than that from plants forced in the 
open ground. 
Tarragon.—Plants in pots should be brought 
into heat. 
Tomatoes.—If some of these are required early, 
sow seeds at once. 
Cucumbers. —A heat of 75° at the roots should 
be maintained in the pits or houses in which 
plants are growing, and from 70° to 80°, accord- 
ing to outside influences, in the daytime. Give 
air when the weather permits, so as to dry the | 
foliage once a day; but let it be given by 
degrees. If the plants require water, let it be 
warmed to the temperature of the air. 
Melons.—Prepare the beds in the house or pit, 
as the case may be, by placing a layer of half- 
decomposed leaves at the bottom of the beds on 
which the hillocks will be made. Sow early sorts 
in 3-inch pots, and place in a bottom-heat of 75°, 
and a top-heat of 70°. When the roots have 
where a bottom-heat of 80° and a top-heat of 
75° can be afforded. Let the plants have as 
much sun-light as they can safely bear. Give 
air. Water in the forenoon, taking care that 
the heat of the water is equal to that of the 
air. : 
Pine-A pples.—The fruiting plants should have 
a bottom-heat of 80° and a top-heat of 70° at 
night, and 75° in the day, or with sun-heat 85°. 
Plants required to start early should have a 
temperature of 75° at night, and from 80° to 
85° in the day, or as high as 95° with sun-heat. 
Succession plants require a lower temperature. 
For these the bottom-heat should be 75°, and 
the top-heat 65° in the day, or 70° if the weather 
be clear. The soil should always contain mois- 
ture for the roots, not merely at the top or by 
the sides of the pots, but throughout the mass. 
Cold water should not be used. Give air in 
such a way as not to cause any sudden fall of 
temperature. 
Vines.—In preparing to force these, let the 
house be thoroughly cleaned. Clear off the 
loose bark from the canes, but do not peel them 
too hard, unless some insect pest infest them. 
Wash them with soap and water. The walls 
and pipes should be whitewashed with lime 
mixed with flowers of sulphur. Commence with 
a temperature of 50° at night, and 60° in the 
day, or 70° by sun-heat. Increase the heat 
gradually to 55° at night, and 65° in the day, 
when the buds are swelling. If the plants in 
an earlier house are in leaf, let the temperature 
‘be about 60° at night, and from 65° to 75° in 
| the day, or 80° with sun-heat. 
flower, the temperature should be 60° at night, 
_and 75° in the day, or with sun-heat, 80°. Mus- 
When showing 
cats require a higher temperature for setting, as 
well as for their future growth. When in flower 
they should have a temperature of 65° at night, 
and from 75° to 85° by sunshine. At the time of 
starting, very strong growths of the former year 
should be turned back towards the front of the 
house, in order to induce the buds to push more 
regularly. Maintain a moist atmosphere in the 
house, and use tepid water for syringing. Be 
careful to avoid wetting the pipes when they 
are very hot, or a crop of rusty Grapes may 
be the result. Stop the shoots of those so far 
advanced as to require it. Remove super- 
abundant bunches, and commence thinning 
operations early. 
Figs.—Commence forcing with a temperature 
of 50° at night, and 60° by day with sun-heat; 
gradually increase the temperature in two or 
