CALENDAR FOR THE FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDENS. 
supply in October. For this purpose the ma- 
terial should be ready by the first week in 
August. | 
Cucumbers.—Continue to thin, stop, and regu- 
late shoots. Give manure-water occasionally, 
and when this is done in frames let the foliage 
be immediately watered with pure water. In 
dry weather syringe the leaves twice a day. 
Melons.—When the fruit is nearly full-grown 
let the bed be well watered, so that the plants 
may not suffer from drought till the ripened 
fruit is cut. Where hot-water pipes are em- 
ployed for heating, a regular quantity of 
moisture in the soil will be maintained by 
means of the water given to the plants above 
the heating apparatus; but with regard to 
dung-beds there is no difficulty in doing so. 
In fact, when the fermenting materials are 
duly prepared, the whole being sufficiently 
moist when put up, water will occasionally 
be required when necessary. In a fermenting 
bed of this description there will at this season 
be ample heat to finish off the crop. Attend 
to stopping laterals and setting fruit. 
Pine-Apples.—The suckers that were started 
in March, and which had their final shift to- 
wards the end of April, will be growing vigor- 
ously. Sufficient space should be allowed to 
secure a sturdy growth. Keep the bottom-heat 
regular, and, as the roots increase, ventilate 
and moisten the plants and house as directed. 
Water with weak guano-water in a tepid state 
plentifully whenever needful, but before applv- 
ing it examine the soil in the pots individually. 
Syringe the foliage two or three times a week, 
excepting those plants that are ripening their 
fruit. Plant suckers in 5-inch pots. 
Vines.—Vineries in which the fruit is ripe 
should be kept dry. Those in which the fruit 
is swelling should be frequently syringed, to 
keep the foliage healthy and free from red 
spider; for if this pest is not kept down before 
the fruit begins to ripen, it cannot possibly be 
eradicated till after the crop is gathered, and by 
that time a great amount of injury will have 
been caused. Endeavour, therefore, to preserve 
a due degree of moisture in the border, in order 
that the foliage may be fresh and healthy, even 
when the fruit is ripe. Laterals may be allowed 
to grow after the crop is gathered, in order 
that they may contribute to the formation of 
roots. 
Figs.—When the lateral shoots have grown 
so that five or six Figs have formed, pinch out 
the end buds, but let all terminal shoots develop 
a growth without stopping them. Water regu- 
Vou. II 
549 
larly, and syringe the foliage. Abundance of 
air should be given during the day, and a little 
at night. 
Peaches and Nectwrines.—As the fruit ap- 
proaches maturity, all watering must be with- 
held, and a dry, well-ventilated atmosphere 
should be maintained. Let the ripening fruit 
be fully exposed to light by turning aside any 
leaves that would otherwise shade it. In gather- 
ing, very little force should be necessary. Let 
the base of the fruit be surrounded by the soft 
tips of all the four fingers and thumb, and the 
amount of pressure thus applied on five places 
will be so slight on each that no bruising will 
result. When the crop is gathered, water the 
border if necessary, and syringe well the foli 
age. 
AUGUST. 
KITCHEN-GARDEN DEPARTMENT. 
Attention must now be paid to the sowing of 
certain crops for autumn, winter, and spring, 
which comprise Onions, Spinach, Cabbage, 
Lettuce, and Cauliflower. Onions and Spinach 
should be sown at the beginning, and again at 
the middle of the month; Cabbage, for a general 
crop, on the 8th, Lettuce the 20th, and Cauli- 
flower the 24th. The exact time is of more 
importance than it is in the case of spring sow- 
ings. At that time a week sooner or later is 
sometimes of little consequence; but in this 
month there are particular times at which, almost 
to a day, certain crops must be sown, otherwise 
they will not attain perfection. If sown a week 
too early the plants may run to seed, and if as 
much too late they will not become full-sized. 
In dry weather it is well to sow and plant 
immediately the soil is dug. Seeds cannot vege- 
tate without moisture, yet it is not good to 
drench them with water, and then allow them 
to be parched up by the sun’s rays. It is better 
to spread a mat over the bed to prevent the sur- 
face from drying till the seeds vegetate, when it 
must, of course, be taken off; but then the plants 
had better be shaded from the direct rays of the 
sun. Herbs for drying should be cut, in a dry 
day, before the flowers expand, and laid in a dry 
airy shaded place. Vegetables for pickling should 
also be gathered when they are quite dry. 
A ngelica.—Sow as soon as the seeds are ripe; 
cover them lightly. 
Artichokes.—Cut down the stems as the crop 
is gathered. 
77 
