16 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



safe temperature. If you have plants which require 

 repotting do not delay the operation longer. Young 

 plants intended to grow into specimens especially, use 

 rich soil, assist them with a little fire heat, and train 

 the shoots as they advance in growth with taste and 

 judgment.— Charles Turner, Slough. 



Stove. 



In severe cold weather, when hands can be spared 

 from out-door work, every plant should be well looked 

 over, and such as require it should be effectively 

 washed and cleansed; if this work be properly done 

 now much after-labour will be saved. Prune such 

 plants as require it. Towards the end of the month 

 commence potting ; reduce carefully the balls of 

 Allamandas, Dipladenia, Clerodendron, Begonias, &a. ; 

 ■when potted plunge into a bottom heat of about 75°. 

 Much water will not be required until they begin to 

 fill the pots with tresh roots. Syringe daily witli water 

 the temperature of the air of the house. Maintain 

 a temperature at night of about 60°, and 70° by day, 

 allowing it to rise 10° by sun heat. Give air care- 

 fully according to the state of the weather. — M. S. 



Flower Garden. 

 In mild weather push forward alterations, so as to 

 get completed before planting time. Protect bulbs 

 in frosty weather, and whilst covered examine them 

 daily, as mice and rats often make sad work among 

 them whilst covered. Plant Roses in open weather ; 

 plant Anemones, if not already done. Prepare beds 

 for Ranunculuses, giving them plenty of old rotten 

 cowdung and leaf soil. Pleasure Grounds. — The 

 weather so far has been most favourable for evergreen 

 trees and shnibs, particularly so to such as were inj nred 

 by the severe frost of last winter. The young wood 

 has got tolerably well ripened, and if no very severe 

 weather sets in they may get safely over this winter, 

 and next season thoroughly recover the injuries 

 sustained last winter. If appearances indicate a 

 coming storm see that everything is properly protected 

 that requires it. In open weather plant trees and 

 shrubs, and mulch them well. Lay Turf. Turn and 

 roll gravel walks, and give them a covering of fresh 

 gravel. Make new walks ; prune the more hardy 

 kinds of trees and shrubs, and dig or fork the borders 

 nicely over.— M. S. 



Forcing. 



Fruit.— Pine Apples.— Do not let the fruiting 

 plants want for water ; see they have a regular bottom 

 heat of about 85°, and keep the temperature at night 

 from 65 n to 70°, and during the day about 75°, allowing 

 it to rise 8° or 10° by sun heat. A lower temperature 

 will do better for succession plants, about 60°- at night 

 and 70° in the day, and a bottom heat which should 

 not vary much either above or below 80°. Water 

 sparingly, and give a little air when the weather 

 permits. Vines. — Stop and tie down shoots in the 

 early-house. When they begin to flower seep the 

 temperature about 65? at night, and 70" during the 

 day, with an increase of 10 u or 12 Q by sun heat. Keep 

 rather a dry atmosphere. Muscats require a higher 

 temperature for setting. Maintain a moist atmosphere 

 in succession-house, and keep the temperature from 

 55° to 60° by night and 65° to 70° by day. Give as 

 much air as the stateof the weather will allow, always 

 give it early in the forenoon, and close up soon in the 

 afternoon. Late-houses should be got ready for start- 

 ing. Peaches and Nectarines.— -When those in the 

 early-house are in flower the temperature by night 

 may range from 50° to 55° and 65" by day, with an 

 increase of 10° by sun heat. They should have plenty 

 of air, if the weather will allow, but guard against 

 cold currents. When the inside borders require 

 water they should have suiflcient given to moisten 

 them quite through, and it should be of thesame tem- 

 perature as the air of the house. Disbud cautiously, 

 thinning only a few of the strongest at the ends of the 

 branches. When you see any green fly, fumigate im- 

 mediately. Start succession-houses, begin with a 

 temperature of 45 s at night and 55° by day, with a 

 rise of 10° or 15° by sun heat. If the inside borders 

 were allowed to get at all dry whilst the trees were 

 at rest, they should be well soaked with water. Figs. 



— Begin these with 50° at night and 60° by day, and 

 gradually increase it. Keep a moist atmosphere, and 

 water freely after they come into leaf. Cherries. — 

 Of all stone fruits these arc, perhaps, the worst to force 

 very early. A steady bottom heat of about 70° is of 

 the utmost importance, as it causes an early root- 

 action, from want of which failures often occur. Give 

 air freely, and attend carefully to watering. Straw- 

 berries. — At this season these ought to have a bottom 

 heat of about 65°. This will cause the formation of 

 roots, which will cause them to truss and flower mora 

 boldly. Begin with a temperature of 45° to 50° at 

 night, and 60" by day. They will not need much 

 water until they begin to grow ; whilst in flower they 

 can scarcely have too much air if the weather will 

 allow it. After the fruit is set the temperature should 

 be raised to 65° to 60° by night, and 70° by day. When 

 sufficient fruit is set for a crop pinch off the remainder. 

 Look out for green fly, and fumigate on its first appear- 

 ance.— M. S. 



Vegetables.— ./is^ara^.—ThoseinbearingshouId 

 have a bottom heat of from 65° to 70°. Give plenty 

 of air, and in fine weather pull the lights off in order 

 to give as much colour as possible to the ihoots. 

 Make fresh beds for succession. Rhubarb and Sea- 

 kale. — Keep up a succession. Take up plants, and 

 place them n a gentle bottom heat iu any dark 

 place. This is the best plan in severe weather j but 

 later in the season the old plan of covering with pota 

 and boxes in the open ground and covering them 

 with fermenting material answers well. Kidney 

 Beans. — Sow for succession. Keep them near the 

 glass, and water carefully. Mustard and Cress. — 

 Sow once a-fortnight in heat. Potatoes.— Plant Ash- 

 leaved Kidneys. Tarragon and Mint. — Introduce a 

 few roots into heat. Cucumbers and Melons. — Sow, 

 and plunge in a good bottom heat. When up pot off 

 carefully and replunge, keeping them as near the 

 light as possible.— M. S. 



Roses in Pots. — Where Roses are required all the 

 year round we must suppose the collection of plants 

 in pots to be cast in several groups. The first lot are 

 probably already budding forth in the forcing-house, 

 and others should be introduced at intervals of about 

 a month. Those placed in the forcing-house early in 

 January will flower from the beginning to the end of 

 March, according to the degree of heat employed. At 

 this season of the year ten weeks are required to pro- 

 duce really good flowers such as would please the con- 

 noisseur, although if qualityof flowers isnot a pointof 

 primary importance, they may be brought forth in 

 six weeks. As I should prefer a good Rose in March 

 to an indifferent one in February I believe there are 

 many of the same opinion, I shall take the former 

 period as my guide, and in accordance with this 

 view would not for the first fortnight employ a tem- 

 perature of more than 55° by day and 40° or 45° by 

 night, increasing the temperature gradually till the 

 end of the month. Syringe once daily, more especially 

 on sunny than on cloudy days ; and as the leaves 

 form, water occasionally as required with weak 

 manure water. Fumigate with tobacco the day the 

 first green fly is seen, for nothing is more important 

 than to keep the plants free from this pest.— William 

 Paul, Waltham Cross. 



Hardy Fruit. 



Plant fruit trees of all kinds in open weather. 

 Prune all kinds of fruit trees when the branches are 

 not frozen. Get nails and shreds ready for use in 

 bad weather. There is every prospect of an abun- 

 dant crop of fruit this year if the weather be favour- 

 able in spring.— M. S. 



Kitchen Garden. 



The weather ha3 been so favourable for out-door 

 operations that the work here should be in a forward 

 state. Take the opportunity of frosty weather to 

 wheel manure on to ground where it will be required. 

 Proceed with ridging, trenching, and digging, and 

 have the ground in good order to receive the crops 

 by-and-by. Attend to Lettuces, Cauliflowers, and 

 other things in frames. Sow some early PeUs and 

 Broad Beans on warm borders. Get Pea-rods and 

 stakes ready in bad weather. Look over the netting, 

 and repair.— M. S, 



