540 
head and all other surfaces in the place. Water 
with tepid water. Apply manure-water when 
the plants are in fruit. Thin out the shoots 
frequently, so as to have but few to remove at 
any one time. 
Melons.—Give air early in the morning to 
free the leaves of moisture before the sun acts 
so powerful as to burn them. The flowers must 
be fertilized when the air of the house is rather 
dry. Sow seeds for the general crop. 
Pine- Apples.—In the planting system two 
methods are in practice. In one case they are 
planted on ridges of the best fibrous loam on a 
bed of oak or beech leaves, as at Frogmore. 
In the other the bed is heated by hot-water 
pipes passing through a chamber beneath it. 
The cultivation in pots is most successfully 
done by a combination of the above modes, | 
namely, by employing fermenting materials 
for heat at the roots during the early stages 
of growth, and artificial heat for fruiting the 
plants, and finishing them off. Whichever 
method of cultivation is adopted, it is neces- 
sary to start a batch of suckers about the first 
of March, and a fermenting-bed should be ready | 
at that time with 80° to 90° of heat in it at 15) 
inches from its surface. 
Pot suckers according | 
to their size into 7- and 9-inch pots, and plunge | 
them up to the rim. Give no water until new 
roots are visible at the side of the pot. Keep 
a moist air about them, and let the heat range 
from 65° to 70° and 75° by day, and as soon as 
the pots are fairly filled with roots shift them 
into fruiting-pots of 10 and 12 inches diameter. 
Vines.— Attend to the succession-house as 
before directed. Tie in shoots before they get 
entangled; there should be no crowding. Thin 
the berries, taking care not to prick those in- 
tended to remain. If the points of the bunches 
are taken off, the berries will swell better. Tie 
up the shoulders of bunches and remove tendrils. 
Keep a moist atmosphere in the houses at night. | 
Syringe frequently until the vines are in flower, 
when it should be discontinued. After the 
thinning is finished, inside borders should re- 
ceive a liberal supply of tepid manure-water. 
Figs.—Remove all suckers. Take care that 
the roots are regularly supplied with water. 
Keep the foliage clean by frequent syringing 
and applications of sulphur. 
Peaches and Nectarines.—Remove all super- 
fluous shoots. If any trained in for bearing 
have failed to produce fruit and are not re- 
quired, let them be cut back to the lower young 
shoot if there is one, to be laid in to take its 
place. Thin the fruit partially at an early 
to the end of the month. 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
stage, leaving one or more to every square foot, - 
those taking the lead in swelling of course 
being left in preference. Syringe morning and 
afternoon and shut up early, allowing a little 
ventilation at night. Keep the temperature at 
night at 55° to 60°, with a rise of 10° or 15° 
on sunny days. Examine the borders, and give 
manure water plentifully. 
Cherries— When the fruit is set the tempera- 
ture may be increased to 45° by night and 65° 
by day, or 70° by sun-heat; but plenty of air 
must then be admitted. Be careful to supply 
sufficient moisture to the roots. Syringe the 
foliage, fumigate for green-fly, and diligently 
search for and destroy grubs on the leaves. 
Strawberries. — Introduce another batch 
plants, and follow former directions. 
of 
APRIL: 
KITCHEN-GARDEN DEPARTMENT. 
The weather during this month is generally 
showery; but sometimes dry easterly winds 
prevail with cold nights. Under these circum- 
stances watering should be done in the morn- 
ings, and then only when absolutely necessary. 
Stir the surface of the ground among crops 
whenever it can be done. Weed beds, and hoe 
and rake the alleys. 
A nise.—Sow early in the month. 
Artichokes. —Make fresh. plantations, if not 
already done, in good rich soil, as the quality 
mainly consists in the substance of the heads. 
Young and large heads are the best, therefore 
vigorous plants are essential. 
Asparagus.—Sow seeds not later than the 
first or second week. Plant in mild weather, 
when the ground is in good condition. 
Balm.—Divide the roots. 
Basil.—Sow seeds on a slight hot- bed 
Beans.—Sow for succession crops; draw earth 
to plants already up. 
Beet.—Sow the main crop from the middle 
In dry weather the 
seeds should be steeped a day before sowing. 
Borage.—Sow for succession. 
Borecole-—Sow the main crop in the first week. 
Broccoli.—Make principal sowings of the late 
kinds from the first to the third week of the 
month; sow also Sprouting for early use, and 
at the end of the month a succession of some 
late sort. 
by bending one or two leaves over them. 
Protect the heads which have formed | 
