108 
THE GAKDENEES' AND NATURALISTS' CALENDAR FOK MARCH. 
artificial temperature, is universally greater than when 
exposed to its natiu"al climate, in consequence of the 
partial absence of light. And we find it the more 
especially so with plants deriving considerable nourish- 
ment from their foliage. The Fig tree is decidedly a 
subject of this description, for we find it producing 
abimdant crops of fruit upon the poorest soils. In 
forcing the Fig, it is, therefore, highly essential to pay 
attention, in due time, to the thinning and regulating 
of the branches, giving heat with Ught, free ventilation, 
and maintaining a humid atmosphere. Plants in pots 
or tubs must never be allowed to become thoroughly 
diy, nor must they be excessively watered. While the 
fruit are swelling they Avill be benefited by a little 
liquid manure ; it must, however, be weak. Take espe- 
cial care by thoroughly syringing every day that the 
red spider does not attack the plants. 
Teaches. — As soon as the fruit are fah'ly set, an ad- 
vance in the temperatui'e must take place, but not too 
suddenly. It is safer to increase the heat two or three 
degrees a-week until the thermometer stands at 60 de- 
grees, than to rise at once to that heat, for the fniit are 
extremely liable to fall off under abrupt atmospheric 
changes. Search carefully for green fly, and if 
any are perceived, fumigate at once, but not too 
strongly, or the foliage will suffer, and repeat the pro- 
cess until the fly is destroyed. Red spider frequently 
attack the trees in this stage. If such be the ease, 
syringe eveiy morning and evening. But if the trees 
are clean, once a-day wiU be sufficient, as there is no 
necessity to keep the trees perpetually saturated. Par- 
tially disbud as soon as the shoots are an inch or t^vo 
long. But be careful to leave plenty of foliage, or the 
economy of the trees will be disarranged ; and, on the 
other hand, a confusion of branches wiU produce the 
same result. Thin the fruit as they get about the size 
of Peas, and again as they advance in growth ; but 
leave a superabundance until after they are stoned. 
Examine the borders, and see that they do not suffer 
drought, and attend well to the ventilation of the 
house. 
Strawberries. — Plants in bloom must have an abim- 
dance of Ught and air, or they wiU not set their fi-uit. 
If they are in the Peach-house or Vinery, keep them 
as near the front or top sashes as possible ; and as they 
set their fi'uit, they may be removed to another part of 
the house, to swell theu' fi-uit and to give place to suc- 
cessional plants just coming into flower. The humid 
state of the atmosphere of these houses wiU not be suit- 
able tothem while in blossom. It would be better, there- 
fore, to set them in a pit exclusively appropriated to the 
pmrpose, and remove them to the forcing-houses. The 
temperature, while they are in flower, must not exceed 
50 to .55 degrees. But as soon as the fruit are set, a 
gradual rise to from 60 to 70 degrees wiU be beneficial 
to them. If fine fruit are desii'ablc, they must be 
thinned as soon as set, and liberally supplied with 
liquid manui'e evei-y alternate watering. Placing them 
in pans will encourage them greatly. Syringe them 
fi-equently, except when in flower, and fumigate as soon 
as green fly infests them. Continue to introduce a 
successional batch of plants every fortnight, M. S. 
Cucimiber Hou^e. — The plants will now be making 
vigorous growth, if previous directions have been at- 
tended to. Strict attention must be paid to regulating 
the shoots, so that every leaf has its portion of light. 
Where the young plants have not yet reached the top 
of the trellis, they must be carefully tied to prevent 
their being displaced, by applying the syringe, which 
win now be necessaiy on every favourable opportunity, 
as the best means of keeping in check the various insects 
that delight to prey upon the cucumber plant. The 
plants that are now bearing frait must have strict atten- 
tion, to pick off every fruit and blossom that is not 
required, which gives strength and vigour to those left 
w^ — 
to swell. It is desirable to impregnate those that are 
left, when the bloom is fully expanded, about eleven or 
twelve o'clock in the day, and be careful not to sprinkle 
any water on the blossom so impregnated ; and if the 
blossom closes in twelve hours after the pollen is ap- 
plied, it is a sign that all is going on right. Stop at 
the first joint every lateral that is requii-ed, but pinch 
out every lateral that is not requii-ed as soon as it 
appears, and keep the plants thin of foliage, as they 
■will then continue longer in a healthy, fi-uitful condi- 
tion. When it is necessary to remove any old, large 
piece of wood, it is well to smear the wound over -with 
fresh slacked lime. Keep the day temperature ten 
degrees higher than the night, and, if possible, keep tha 
roots ten degrees higher than the night temperature. 
Air must be admitted on all favourable opportunities, 
but cutting winds must be avoided. 
Bimg Bed. — When the plants that are not yet 
planted out are ready, and the dung sweet by frequent 
turning, beds must be prepared. Where there is' a 
scanty supply of dung, it is an excellent system to make 
the beds hoUow by building dung- walls back and front 
to the width of the frame, and placing a hm-dle, or any 
refuse wood, over the opening, placing a thin layer of 
dung over the top before putting the frame on. This 
will save one-third dung, and the bed will be sooner fit 
to receive the plants, as there is not any danger of 
burning the roots. The holes at the end must be stopped 
■with hot dimg or long litter. If there is no dung to 
spare to make a lining at once all round the fi-ame, a 
good thatching of straw -will be a good substitute to 
ward off wet and cold. Linings to old beds must be 
frequently topped up with fresh dung. If any wood- 
lice appear, apply hot water to them. Earth up the 
plants as they require it, never allowing a root to re- 
main exposed for a single hour. When they are not 
intended to be ti-ained upon trellis- work, stop at every 
joint, and peg the shoots down as they progress. 
Melons. — The soU for Melons I like a little firmer 
than that for Cucumbers, as they are more impatient of 
water. AVhere the early scai-let varieties are gTO-wn to 
produce fruit in the month of May, it "will now be a 
good time to make sowings of the choicest and more 
esteemed varieties for a succession in June. The Danes- 
biuy Park, and Seymour's Golden Perfection, are said to 
be fii-st-rate kinds. Prepare plenty of dung for succes- 
sional beds. W. T. 
FRUIT GARDEN.— OUT-DOOR DEPART- 
MENT. 
Wall Trees. — The protection of Wall Trees -will now 
engage the attention of those who are satisfied of its 
beneficial effects. After the last severe spring, which 
proved so extensively destructive to the blossom, and, 
in some situations, even to the trees themselves, few 
will be prepared to deny the advantage of an efficient 
protection. Next to glass, a temporary wood coping 
with moveable canvas curtains attached, decidedly 
affords the most effective and least objectionable pro- 
tection. All screens which cannot be removed at 
pleasui-e are bad, if not altogether useless. The trees 
are shaded when light and rain would be of great 
service to them ; and they cannot be looked over and 
washed, which is most requisite at an early period of 
their g-ro"wth. Those who have em-tains "will do well to 
put them up immediately, and during very wai-m sunny 
days di-aw them before the trees for an hour or two 
in the middle of the day ; this will in some measure 
retard the blossom, and consequently strengthen it. 
Dm-ing diill warm days, the ti-ees must have all the 
light and air it is possible to give them. In keen fi'osty 
weather, day as well as night, keep them covered. Se- 
cure the curtains so that the wind does not get behind 
them. Several admirable articles have recently ap- 
