CALENDAR FOR THE FRUIT AND KITCHEN 
room-house. Lift the roots carefully, and plant 
them in light rich soil; wall up about the 
crowns, as from here roots will start that give 
great support in the forcing process. 
Sea-Kale.—Take up young roots in preference 
to two- or three-year-old plants raised on pur- 
pose, and plant in light soil in boxes 1 foot 
deep; give water when planted, and place in a 
warm frame, Mushroom-house, or elsewhere, in 
a temperature of about 60°. 
Cucwmbers.—Those sown in the end of Septem- 
ber will now require to be planted in the houses 
where they are to fruit. Keep the glass of the 
sashes clean, so as to admit as much light as 
possible. Maintain a bottom-heat of 75°, and a 
top-heat of about the same; but this may rise 
to 80° with sun-heat, air being admitted at the 
same time. Water the beds in the early part 
of the day, taking care that the temperature 
of the water is about 75°. 
Pine- Apples.—Growth in young plants and 
suckers should not be prolonged, but be kept 
in a low temperature—58° as a mean at night, 
and 55° when suckers are placed to be wintered 
for restarting into growth again in the spring. 
In both cases 65° during daylight will amply 
suffice. At 70° a crack of air for an hour or 
two will be productive of much good. The 
bottom-heat should not, in the case of succes- 
sional plants, be allowed to fall below 75°, and 
for suckers 65°. Under these conditions the 
watering should be done by an experienced 
hand, as injury is a certain consequence of too 
much water. Fruiting plants will require a 
higher temperature, say 75°, and a good supply 
of moisture at the roots. The house should be 
kept tolerably moist by sprinkling the floor and 
the plants occasionally. 
Vines.—The mean temperature of this month 
is, on the average, little above 40°; and the air is 
generally saturated with moisture. Under these 
conditions the hot-water pipes should be kept 
warm, and a crack of air left on constantly at 
the apex of the house will cause a circulation 
that will prevent any ill effects from external 
influences. If the nights are cold, the tempera- 
ture of the house should not be allowed to fall 
lower than 55°. 
The house in which forcing is to be com- 
menced for the earliest crop, or to have fruit ripe 
in April, should be shut up at the beginning of 
the month. Asa higher temperature will be re- 
quired to start the canes at this season than in 
spring, the temperature may be, when the house 
is first shut up, from 50° to 55° at night and 
60° to 65° by day, and 70° to 75° by sun-heat. 
GARDENS. 557 
Syringe the canes twice a day, and sprinkle 
the paths and other surfaces occasionally, so as to 
maintain a moist atmosphere. If plants in pots 
have been started for very early fruit, the shoots 
should be stopped at the second leaf above the 
branch. After the leading shoot is stopped, the 
subsequent laterals from it and on all other 
growths should be pinched at the first or second 
leaf. This is very necessary to obtain early 
Grapes. 
‘igs.—After the crop is gathered, the plants 
should be gradually subjected to a lower tempera- 
ture, and then shifted if necessary; or at all events 
the top soil should be taken off and replaced with 
fresh. The pots should then be placed in an airy 
house or shed, where the temperature can be 
prevented from ever falling below 40°. Of course, 
water will scarcely be required under these cir- 
cumstances, but the roots must not be allowed 
to get too dry. If early ripe fruit is required, 
the plants should be brought into heat this month 
and be subjected to the same conditions as recom- 
mended for early Grapes. 
Peaches and Nectarines.—The trees should be 
freely exposed to the air. The sashes may even 
be taken off in the early part of the month, and 
this will afford a convenient opportunity to 
repair and paint them. If ripe fruit is required 
early next May the house should be closed 
about the middle of November. No fire-heat 
need be applied during the first fortnight unless 
frosty weather necessitates it, when the night 
temperature should be kept at 45° to 50°, and 
60° to 65° in the day. On fine days liberally 
ventilate in the daytime. Syringe the trees 
twice daily if they become dry. A gradual start 
is recommended as a means to prevent the buds 
from dropping, which sometimes results from 
this cause, or otherwise from the soil about the 
‘roots having become too dry during the term of 
maturation. 
Cherries. —Examine the trees, and shift all 
those requiring more room for their roots into 
larger pots or tubs. Top-dress the others. Plunge 
in leaves, or otherwise mulch, so as to protect 
the roots from frost. To free the trees of any 
insects that may abound in a dormant state, they 
should be washed over with soft-soap water in a 
weak state. The house should also be thoroughly 
cleansed and lime-washed over. After other 
operations, such as tying, are completed, they 
will be ready for starting. 
Strawberries.—The pots should be protected 
from frost, and also from heavy rains, which 
would wash the nutritive qualities out of the 
soil, unless the rain pass through a mulching of 
