DECEMEER — FOURTH WEEK. 127 



bloom, and to have plenty of air at favourable oppor« 

 tunities. 



FORCING-HOUSES. 



Cucumbers.— No diminution of heat to be allowed 

 after the plants are ridged out and in action. 



Peaches. — It is becoming very much the fashion to 

 have Peach and some other sorts of fruit trees which are 

 wanted for early forcing in pots, and the plan is so far 

 good, that it affords the advantage of being able to give 

 the roots a mild, regular bottom heat, which is of the 

 greatest importance in early forcing. Those who have 

 good established trees, in pots, may now start them in a 

 moderate heat. Air to be given liberally in favourable 

 weather, and the syringe to be used freely over them 

 morning and evening. The surface soil to be stirred up 

 and kept open, and a supply of manure water to be given 

 previous to starting them. The trees in the late houses to 

 receive whatever pruning is necessary, and to be cleansed 

 of every particle of scale, and afterwards washed with a 

 composition of soft soap and sulphur. All bast ties and 

 insect-haunts to be carefully removed. 



Pines- — During the continuance of severe weather, 

 dry fern, straw, &c, will be necessary, in addition 

 to mats; such coverings will be of more service than 

 maintaining strong fires to keep up the temperature. 

 When a supply of fruit is required throughout the year, 

 it is sometimes necessary, at this season, to subject some 

 of the plants to a high temperature to start them into 

 fruit. A few of such as are most likely to fruit soon, to 

 be put into a pit, or house, by themselves, where a tem- 

 perature of from 60° to 65° by night, and from 70° to 75° 

 by day, with about 80° of bottom heat, will be the most 

 certain treatment for starting them into fruit. The other 

 plants can then be supplied with a moderate temperature 

 until the beginning of February ; by such treatment a 

 succession of fruit will be prolonged. Do not suffer the 

 linings of dung-beds to decline, keep up, if possible, a 

 temperature of 50° at night, and 60° by day, with a little 

 air at every favourable opportunity. 



Potatoes. — Plant some sound, whole sets,, singly, in 

 three-and-a-half-inch pots, to be placed at the back of a 

 Pine-pit, or in any other place where there is some heat, 



