542 
Turnips.—Sow successional batches. Hoe and 
thin out plants already up. 
HARDY-FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 
It is presumed that the planting and pruning 
of fruit-trees are now finished, unless delayed 
by bad weather or other unavoidable causes. 
The Fig may be pruned in the beginning of the 
month. Apples and Pears may yet be grafted. 
Apricots should be thinned. Continue to pro- 
tect Peaches and Nectarines; but see that the | 
coverings are not producing, by their warmth, | 
tender foliage, that would afterwards suffer from > 
exposure. If such is likely to take place, the 
protecting materials must be reduced. Disbud 
sparingly at first when any of the shoots have 
pushed so far as to require removal. 
Attend to newly-grafted trees, and replace the 
clay if it has dropped off. In case of parching | 
winds, some grafts may require to have moss 
tied over the clay, and to be kept moist. 
See that Apricots and other wall-trees are not 
dry at the roots. Weed Strawberry plantations, 
and water them plentifully. 
FORCING DEPARTMENT. 
Capsicums.—Shift into larger pots; place near 
the light in some forcing-house. 
Carrots.—Expose freely in fine weather. Water 
so that the extremities of the roots may find 
sufficient moisture. Keep the foliage clean by 
syringing. 
Cauliflowers.-—Moisten well the soil in the 
frames two days before planting out. 
Celery.—Prick out 4 inches apart, on a layer of 
rotten dung mixed with loam from a Cucumber 
or Melon bed, laid about 4 inches thick on hard 
ground. Attend well tothe watering of the plants, 
and shelter if the weather be unfavourable. 
Egg-plants.—Train in order that it may form 
two branches, which should afterwards be 
stopped to form others. Keep the plants near 
the light, and give more air as the season ad- 
vances. Syringe frequently. 
Endive. 
in a warm place. 
Kidney-Beans.—Sow for succession. 
Lettuce.—Expose freely, day and night, in 
favourable weather. 
Mushrooms.—Collect horse-droppings, and keep 
them in a thin layer in a dry place till wanted 
for new beds. Maintain a moist atmosphere in 
the house, and a temperature of between 60° 
and 65°. 
Sow seeds out-of-doors if necessary, | 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
Onions. — Harden off and transplant those ~ 
raised in heat. 
Potutoes.—Those requiring to be earthed up 
should be effectually watered beforehand, if. 
needed. ; 
ftudishes.—Those forwarded in frames should 
now be freely exposed to air and sunlight. 
Cucumbers.—Maintain the heat previously re- 
commended. If cold north or east winds prevail, 
take great care not to admit cold currents. 
Syringe the foliage before closing the house, 
which should be early in the afternoon. It is 
necessary to ascertain the condition of the soil, 
and, if dry, use water at a temperature of about 
80°, thoroughly soaking the bed. Train, stop, 
and regulate the shoots frequently. Sow seeds 
for ridge plants. 
Melons.—Attend to ventilation and water as 
required. Allow no more shoots to grow than 
can have the foliage fully exposed to light. 
Fertilize the female blossoms when the plants: 
are strong enough to bring forward the fruit. 
The fruit of early crops should be approaching 
maturity. Avoid wetting the fruits, which tends 
to cause them to crack. Sow for a succession. - 
Vegetable Marrows.—Sow seeds for outside 
_ planting. 
Pine-Apples.—Newly-shifted plants should 
have no water till fresh roots be emitted. 
Plants ripening their fruit should have a dry 
atmosphere, with a temperature of 80° by day, 
and 90° by sun-heat. 
Vines.—Attend to stopping and regulating the 
shoots, as before directed. Maintain a gradually 
increasing temperature as the berries increase in 
size. Vines will bear a much wider range of 
daily temperature than tropical plants will; but 
at the same time the average temperature to 
which they are subjected must increase as the 
crop and season advance. 
Figs.—As the fruit swells increase heat and 
moisture; but the latter must be limited when 
the fruit is ripening. Lateral growths from 
the old wood will develop; remove all that are 
not required, and top all except the terminal 
ones at the fifth joint. 
Peaches and Nectarines.—Tie in the shoots as 
they grow, and stop those which would become 
too luxuriant. 
They may be laid in closely to 
the naked parts of branches, but ought not to be 
crowded. Keep the foliage clean by frequent 
syringing, and the border should be duly watered. 
Give air in the morning, and reduce it when the 
temperature from sun-heat begins to decline. 
By this time early crops will require thinning, 
although the final operation in this way should 
