56 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



flowers begin to fade the least, and replace them with 

 plants coming into bloom. Do not suffer a decayed 

 flower or leaf to be seen in the house. Pay the 

 greatest attention t o cleanliness. 



Greenhouses. 

 Hardwooded Plants,— Acacias, Epacrises, Pul- 

 tengeas, Genistas, Hoveas, Chorozemas, Boronias; &c., 

 will now be in flower. They should be effectively 

 arranged, and have every attention necessary paid to 

 them. In mild weather they ghould have plenty of 

 air, and they will require liberal supplies of water. 

 As they go out of bloom, pick off all the decaying 

 flowers and seed-vessels. Proceed with the shifting 

 of all plants that require it. Most of the plants that 

 were potted last month will now be growing treely, 

 and should be stopped and properly tied-out. Keep 

 a growing atmosphere, give air freely in fine weather, 

 and attend well to the watering. Softwooded 

 Plants.— Pelargoniums.— The early- flowering plants 

 must now be well attended to in watering. Keep the 

 shoots properly tied-out, and ventilate freely every 

 favourable opportunity, avoiding cold draughts. The 

 late-flowering plants should be carefully tied out. 

 Syringe occasionally, and shut up early to promote 

 free growth. Fumigate frequently to keep the plants 

 clear of green fly. Scarlet Pelargoniums. — These 

 should now have every encouragement to promote 

 free growth. Cuttings struck now and kept in small 

 pots will be useful in the autumn and winter. 

 Cinerarias. — Specimen plants coming into flower 

 should be well watered, and occasionally with a little 

 weak liquid manure. In very bright weather they 

 should be shaded for a short time during the heat of 

 the day. Pot-off the seedling plants as they are fit, 

 and attend well to them. Calceolarias. — Any that 

 require it should now have a final shift. Water care- 

 fully. Give air freely, and fumigate frequently to keep 

 down the green fly. Fuchsias.— These should now 

 have their final shift. Use a compost of loam, peat, 

 decomposed cowdung, and sand. Keep the plants 

 well stopped. They will not require much watering 

 until they begin to root into the fresh soil. Syringe 

 daily. Shade a little in bright weather, and give air 

 freely every favourable opportunity. 



Stove. 



Attend to the regular shifting of all strong free- 

 growing plants that require frequent repottings. 

 Keep them well stopped and tied-out. Give the plants 

 plenty of room. Attend well to the watering. Syringe 

 daily, and ventilate freely in mild weather. Pot 

 Gesneras and Achimenes for late flowering. 



Pits and Frames. 

 These are excellent structures for gradually pre- 

 paring the different kinds of "bedding" plants for 

 the open ground. Pot-off spring-struck cuttings as 

 soon as they are rooted. Keep them close for a few 

 days, and when they begin to make fresh root give 

 them air more freely. 



Flower Garden. 

 Sow hardy annuals. Finish pruning Koses as soon 

 as possible. Those lately planted should be well 

 watered in dry weather. Get alterations completed 

 as soon as possible, and prepare the beds. Renew the 

 soil altogether where necessary, and work-in a little 

 leaf soil or rotten manure where wanted. Let every- 

 thing be in proper condition before planting-out time 

 arrives. Attend well to rolling and mowing of the 

 grass, so as to lay the foundation for a neat close turf 

 during the season. Pleasure Grounds. — Hollies or 

 other evergreens transplanted this month should be 

 well watered at the time of planting. All newly- 

 planted trees or shrubs should be well watered in dry 

 weather. Koll and mow the grass every week. 



Forcing. 



Fruit, — Pine Apples. — The weather of late has 

 been on the whole favourable to plants showing fruit 

 and to those in flower. By the sun heat we have 

 been able to keep a high temperature in the day, and 

 to give air more freely than we otherwise could do. 

 The young stock Bhifted last month will now be 



growing freely, and should be well attended to. They 

 will not require very much water until they begin to 

 fill the pots with new roots. They must have plenty 

 of air in fair weather. Maintain a growing atmo- 

 sphere, and a temperature of from 65° to 70° at night 

 and 80° to 85° during the day, with an increase by 

 sun heat. Vines.— The early crop will now be ripe, 

 and should have plenty of air. Stop all superfluous 

 growth. "Whilst the second crop is swelling maintain 

 a moist atmosphere. Give air freely in fine weather. 

 Keep a temperature of about 65° at night and 80° 

 during the day. Attend to the stopping and tying 

 of shoots, and thin the berries before they get too 

 large in late houses. Peaches and Nectarines. — Keep 

 the shoots well tied-in in the early house, and be careful 

 not to get them crowded. In disbudding, the bearing 

 wood of the present year should be divested of all 

 shoots except the terminal one and those near the 

 base. When a deficiency occurs in any part of the 

 tree more may be tied-in. Ventilate freely in fine 

 weather, and be careful to close-up early in the after- 

 noon. Syringe once or twice daily, and keep a moist 

 atmosphere by throwing plenty of water on the 

 paths, borders, &c. Attend to the disbudding and the 

 thinning of the fruit in the second house. Figs.— As 

 the season advances gradually raise the temperature 

 of the house. Syringe mornings and afternoons. 

 Keep a moist atmosphere. When the borders require 

 watering, give them a good soaking. Plants in pots 

 and tubs should have some weak manure water 

 occasionally. Cherries.— Attend well to the watering, 

 keep the trees clean of insects, and give plenty of 

 air. Strav:berries.—To get large fine fruit, pick off 

 all the Sowers as soon as two or three are set on each 

 plant, which will be enough. Keep them near the 

 glass and give them plenty of liquid manure, and 

 keep a moist, warm, growing atmosphere until the 

 fruit begin to colour. There will be no difficulty in 

 getting pienty of fruit set after this if the plants are 

 kept near the glass and have an abundance of air. 

 Melons.— Attend to the thinning, stopping, and train- 

 ing of the shoots. Be careful not to leave too many 

 fruit on a plant. See previous directions. 



Vegetables. 

 Mustard and Cress.— Sow every ten days for suc- 

 cession. Capsicums and Tomatoes.— Shift into larger- 

 sized pots. Vegetable Marrow.— Sow. Celery. — 

 Prick-off and sow for late crops. Kidney Beans. — 

 Attend well to the watering of plants in bearing. Sow 

 once a -fortnight for succession. Cucumbers.— Keep 

 up a good bottom heat. Stop, thin, and regulat e the 

 shoots. Give air cautiously. Water when necessary. 



Hardy Fruit. 

 Owing to the mildness of the winter fruit trees are 

 in a very forward state. Apricots, Peaches, and 

 Nectarines are in full bloom. There is a prospect of 

 a fair average fruit crop if the weather be favourable. 

 Those who nee coverings should see they are up every 

 night until all danger from frost is over. Head-down 

 newly-planted young trees. Dress Strawberries if 

 not already done. 



Kitchen Garden. 

 Seize every favourable opportunity to get forward 

 with the work. Beans and Peas.— Sow twice during 

 the month. Broccoli, Cauliflowers, Borecole., Savoys, 

 Brussels Sproids, and Lettuces.— Sow broadcast in 

 four-feet beds, and cover with nets to protect from 

 birds- Carrots, Parsnips, Beet, Salsafy, atid Scor- 

 zonera.—Sovt for the main crops in drills. Radishes. 

 —Sow broadcast in beds. Turnips,— Sow a little 

 aarly on a warm border. Spinach. — Sow. Parsley, 

 —Sow. Cauliflowers and Lettuces that have been 

 raised in heat should, after being gradually hardened, 

 be planted out. Potatoes. — Get in the principal crop. 

 Jerusalem Artichokes. — Plant out in good land. 

 Earth-up and rod Peas. Earth-up Cabbages. Hoe 

 frequently between the crops. In showery weather 

 strew lime or soot over the young crops. Slugs will 

 be very troublesome if they are not destroyed. Keep 

 down weeds. Cut and trim edgings. Clean and rol 

 well all the walks that they may set firm.— M. S, 



