226 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR MAT. 
sary to observe that a thorough, and universal 
hoeing will, independent of other advantages, 
tend much to keep this and every department 
out of doors free of weeds. Look over the 
grafts, and loosen the ties if necessary ; they 
must not be entirely removed. Disbudding, 
and thinning the fruit, with keeping the trees 
dean, will be the principal operations. 
Apples. — Caterpillars will now make sad 
ravages if timely " hand picking" is not 
attended to : when the fruit is fairly set, give 
all a good syringing in the morning with soap 
suds. Thin and give the same kind of atten- 
tion to standards, that is given to the wall 
trees ; they will equally compensate for it. 
Apricots. — Thin, and disbud gradually ; 
remove any nails likely to come in contact 
with the swelling fruits ; syringe occasionally. 
Cherries. — Towards the middle of the 
month,, give a final thinning of wood and fruit 
according to the state of the tree ; fasten in 
the shoots which w r ill bear it. Syringing will 
be necessary if the weather is dry and warm, 
and do it always early. 
Currants. — Keep the ground clean by 
hoeing : if caterpillars appear, dust the bushes 
when damp with white hellebore powder. 
Figs. — No thinning of the fruit is usually 
required, excepting of those which were too 
forward last autumn. Give a good syringing 
before the leaves cover the wall ; the cobwebs 
and filth are very injurious. Thin the young 
shoots moderately ; and top them when six 
inches long. 
Gooseberries. — On dewy mornings dust over 
the bushes with white hellebore powder ; this 
will kill and prevent the caterpillars : where 
very fine fruit is wanted, go over now, and 
thin out the small ones. 
Nectarines, where they have not broken 
well at the points, may be cut back to the 
nearest good bud ; thin gradually, and syringe 
occasionally at the appearance of insects : 
allow a slight protection, (from cutting winds 
and frosts,) to remain a little longer. 
Peaches. — Thin the shoots, taking away all 
the misplaced and diseased ones first ; the 
lowermost bud on the upper side of the shoot, 
is usually left for next year's bearing wood ; 
more if required further along the shoots : 
thin the fruit, removing the small and bad 
ones first. Syringe with clear water, and 
then with tobacco liquid, to kill the green fly. 
Part of the protection afforded to the blossoms 
may be retained till the middle of the month. 
Pears. — Rub off the foreright shoots, and 
many of the deformed and overcrowded fruits. 
Plums. — Attend to thinning the young 
shoots and fruit, which in all cases is to be done 
gradually, and as it were by constant attention — 
not neglecting it for a time, and then thinning 
severely, which is very hurtful to all trees. 
Strawberries. — Hoe immediately, and cut 
away all runners appearing, unless required 
for young plants. Mulch the plants with dry 
litter, as straw or hay ; spent hops is preferable 
to any other mulching, when they can be got. 
Vines. — Divest the trees of all superfluous 
shoots ; and before and whilst in bloom a 
slight protection at night is desirable. 
THE FORCING GARDEN. 
General directions. — An increase of air, 
and a slight decrease of water will now be the 
leading features of importance, of course vary- 
ing according to circumstances. Fruit wanted 
verj'- early, may be obtained so, by keeping the 
apartment closer than the flavour of the fruit 
would warrant ; only this sacrifice may be of 
less consequence at the time. 
Apricots. — Temperature, 75 degrees by da} r , 
and 55 degrees by night. They are not much 
forced, although there is no good reason why 
they should not be ; withhold the water gradu- 
ally, both in damping, syringing, and at the 
roots ; and when they commence to colour, 
withhold it altogether ; give air both night and 
day as the weather allows. 
Cherries. — Temperature, 65 to 70 degrees 
by day, and 50 degrees by night. In many 
cases the sashes may be let down at full length, 
and remain so unless wet or very cold. Give 
no water, as the fruit should soon be ripe, and 
must be very carefully gathered. Nail in, or 
cut away all the straggling shoots, and give 
the benefit of the sun as much as practicable. 
Cucumbers. — Temperature, from 80 degrees 
to 90 degrees by day, and from 65 to 70 at 
night. Always maintain a moist atmosphere ; 
water most in the mornings, yet seldom over 
the leaves. Fumigate gently and often for 
green fly. Thin those in rapid growth daily ; 
impregnate those required for seed ; shut all 
up early in the afternoon ; do not overburden 
the plants, two and three good fruit at a time 
on a plant, is sufficient. 
Figs.- — Temperature, 70 degrees to 75 by 
day, and 60 degrees at night. Stop all the 
shoots at from six to nine inches long : de- 
crease the moisture when there are many ripe. 
Those in pots may be removed to another 
house, and, after a short rest, started again for 
another crop ; but if there are plenty on the 
walls, this will not be prudent : handle the 
fruit very gently, and lay it in a cool place 
until wanted. 
Kidney beans. — Temperature, 70 degrees to 
80 degrees, by day, and 60 to 65 degrees at 
night. Syringe often, as red spider is apt to 
make progress ; maintain a moist heat ; water 
does more injury to the flowers than the beans. 
Apply liquid manure as the apparent vigour 
of the plant may determine. 
Mehns. — Temperature, from 80 to 90 
