CALENDAR FOR THE FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDENS. 
faces of the bricks, but into the mortar, and no 
further into it than is necessary to ensure suffi- 
cient hold. Nails, whether new or old, should 
be heated, and plunged when under a red heat 
in linseed-oil. Old shreds that have been picked 
out as being again fit to be used, should be 
boiled, to kill insects, then thoroughly dried, 
and laid aside till wanted. 
The fruit-room should be kept close con- 
stantly. Remove all speckled and decaying 
fruit, but in so doing disturb as little as pos- 
sible that which is sound. 
FORCING DEPARTMENT. 
Asparagus.—Continue to maintain a bottom- 
heat of from 60° to 70°, and when the shoots 
have started, the soil may be watered accord- 
ing as it may be necessary; but the water 
should not be cold, as in that state it would 
check the growth. It should be brought to a 
temperature of about 65°. Add some more 
light dry soil, and when the shoots appear 
admit air and light, the latter being necessary 
that the shoots may acquire the natural green 
and give it flavour. Keep up a temperature of 
65° constantly, and encourage growth by ordi- 
nary means. Cut the grass when it is about 
4 inches high. Asparagus that is being forced 
on established beds should have the linings’ 
turned when the heat is likely to fall below 
the degree above mentioned; and before the 
shoots advance so far as to be in danger of 
injury, the soil in the frame should be forked 
over and finally broken. Water, probably, will 
not be required; but if it should, to gently 
moisten the surface, attend to the directions 
for its application to Asparagus in frames. 
Prepare for forcing a succession. 
Cauliflowers.—Protect from severe cold so as 
to keep the plants from being checked; but, on 
the other hand, take care not to render them 
tender by keeping them too warm. 
Chicory.—Take up roots, and plant for succes- 
sion, as before directed. 
Cress.—Keep up a supply by sowing in boxes 
placed in heat. 
Endive.—Give plenty of air to those growing 
in protecting frames, and tie it up if necessary 
to blanching. 
Kidney-Beans.—Sow in succession. 
Lettuce.—Keep the glass clean, in order that 
it may transmit the more light to the plants. 
Give air freely in all favourable weather. 
Mint.—Plant in pots or boxes for forcing. 
Mushrooms.—Attend to former directions as 
559 
regards a moist atmosphere in the house. Any 
in ridges out-of-doors will require to be thickly 
covered with litter and mats. 
Mustard.—Sow, and place in heat. 
Radishes.—Prepare a slight hot-bed. Cover 
it with several inches of rich compost, over 
which lay 5 or 6 inches of light soil, and in 
| this, when the bed is at a proper temperature, 
60° to 70°, sow Early Scarlet, Wood’s Frame, or 
French Breakfast. The frame should be so far 
made up with the dung and soil as to have the 
surface of the latter near the glass. Give air 
when the plants come up, and take care that 
they are thinned in time. 
Ihubarb.—Roots should be taken up every 
fortnight or three weeks, and put in heat for 
a succession, or fermenting materials may be 
used for forcing plants in the ground under a 
large inverted flower-pot. 
Sea-Kale.—The same remarks as for Rhubarb 
are applicable to this. 
Cucumbers.—A. bottom-heat of 75° was recom- 
mended last month for those planted out in pits 
or houses. Through the winter months these 
plants want careful attention, also plenty of 
hight, heat, and moisture; without these ele- 
ments success will be dubious. The top-heat 
about the same, or as much as 80° with sun- 
heat and air. As the plants advance let these 
temperatures be fully maintained, especially if 
the days are clear. In this case the heat may 
be increased 5°; but it would be desirable that 
once every day the top-heat should be higher 
than the bottom-heat, and if this can be effected 
by sun-heat, and the house closed up under its 
influence at 80°, so much the better. To main- 
tain the plants in a vigorous state under exist- 
ing conditions, they should not be over-cropped 
now. By this practice a better crop will be 
ensured later on, when they are in greater 
request. Air should be carefully admitted at 
all times. The plants should be as near the 
glass as possible. Attend to stopping and train- 
ing. If the foliage is allowed to get crowded, 
a portion of the leaves will acquire a yellowish 
tinge, and will soon become worse than useless. 
Be careful, therefore, to prevent this. Ascer- 
tain that the water supplied is of the proper 
temperature, 75°, or not higher than 80°. 
Cucumbers in boxes or otherwise should have 
occasionally tepid manure-water. A seed-bed, 
adapted for a one-light box, may be prepared 
for raising Cucumber plants, &e. 
Pine-A pples.—The temperature recommended 
for last month should be continued. The re- 
starting of suckers or other young plants should 
