FEBRUARY — SECOND. WEEK. 



Cucumbers. — The greatest attention should be paid to 

 the state of the bed for the first fortnight after the plants 

 are turned out ; the heat-stick (a stick stuck into the 

 bed) should be examined, being, as it is, a much better 

 criterion to judge by than a thermometer, which is gene- 

 rally used to indicate the heat of the atmosphere in the 

 frame ; cover up according to the heat of the bed. If it 

 will allow it, a small portion of air should be left on 

 every night, which may be given in the evening after the 

 frame has been closed for two or three hours. Keep 

 up the heat by stirring, renewing, or topping-up the 

 linings ; and attend to the stopping of the plants, and the 

 earthing-up of the hills, as the roots make their appear- 

 ance on the surface. 



Melons. — Pot off the plants when the seed-leaves are 

 fully expanded. 



Peaches. — When the trees have set their fruit, give 

 the roots, if growing inside the house, a good watering 

 with liquid manure, mixed with soft hot water, so as to 

 be of the temperature of the house, or a little above it. 

 The syringe to be used several times a-day in clear, mild 

 weather as soon as the fruit is set. 



Pines. — Pot the succession plants. If the pots are 

 full of strong, healthy roots, pick out the crocks care- 

 fully without injuring them, leaving the ball entire, and 

 giving them a good shift. But if unfortunately many of 

 the roots are dead, shake the ball entirely away, and cut 

 out all that are dead, preserving such as are alive and 

 healthy, and potting them in fresh soil. 



Strawberries. — Keep up a succession by placing a 

 few dozen pots in a gentle heat once every fortnight or 

 three weeks. 



Vines. — All laterals to be stopped in due time, and 

 all useless buds and branches to be removed ; the leading 

 shoots to be tied in regularly, and the bunches to be 

 thinned. No more bunches to be left on each Vine than 

 it is likely to bring to perfect maturity. About one 

 dozen bunches are a good average crop for each rod. The 

 temperature to range from 55° to 60° at night, with an 

 increase of 5° to 10° during the day, and even higher 

 during sunshine. 



