THE GAfUjENERS' AND NATURALISTS' CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 
nail some cheeseclotli canvass over the apertxiros, to 
treak the cm-rent, and prevent its mjuring the leaves. 
Allien a regulai- supply of Grapes is kept up hy suc- 
cessional houses, bring these on as circumstances re- 
quire. 
Pay particular attention to the borders covered by 
litter, &c. The severe weather we have experienced 
will render a turning over necessary, adding fresh ma- 
terial, to keep up a genial heat for some time yet. The 
present dry weather has been a favourable opportiuiity 
for carting in fi-esh loam for borders, &c., and noAV is 
an excellent time for the piu'pose. As so much has been 
■wiitten on this subject, we refi'ain from again mooting 
the question, reserving it for a separate article. J. S. 
Fiffs. — Raise the temperature of the fig-honse as the 
season advances. Continue a hmnid atmosphere until 
the crop approaches maturity, then exclude all watering 
until the fruit is cleared oif. 
Feaches. — As a general rule in disbudding Peach 
ti'ces, the bearing wood of the present year should be 
divested of all shoots, except the tonninal one and those 
issuing from near the base. When a deficiency occurs 
in any part of the trees, more may be laid in. Always 
sooiu-e adventitio\is shoots that break from the main 
branches and are favourably placed, in order that the 
whole siu'face of the ti'ees may be furnished with fi-uit- 
producing Avood. Tie the whole of the young shoots 
loosely to the trellises, so that the greatest amount of 
foliage may be exposed to solar influence — a matter of 
paramoimt importance dm-ing the critical process of 
stoning the frait. Thin the fruit to about six inches 
apait. The condition of a given tree may, however, 
require a deviation from this rule. If a gross growth 
be perceived, it wUl be well to thin as little as possible 
until the fruit is considerably advanced beyond stoning, 
which will tend to subdue superfluous vigour. "Water 
the borders liberally if they require it, and complete all 
operations having a tendency to disarrange the economy 
of the -trees previous to the stoning of the fruit. The 
temperjiture of the house must be kept as steadily as 
possible between 58 and 60 degrees, and avoid sudden 
rises by sun-heat by ventilating early in the morning. 
Secure a moist-growing atmosphere by sjTinging the 
ti"ees every fine day, and frequently sprinkling the floor 
of the house. As soon as the stoning is completed 
gradually raise the temperature and close earlier in the 
day. Should insects infest the trees the remedies pre- 
viously recommended, if persevered in, will etfectually 
exterminate them. The same care and attention will 
be requisite in the management of the secondary house 
as for the fli'st. Advantage may be taken of the in- 
creased amoimt of solar influence by ventilating more 
freely, syringing more copiously, and closing earlier. 
Strmvbcrries. — Give those that are swelling their fruit 
liberal doses of liquid manure. Pass the hand gently 
over the trusses of those that are in flower, for the piu-- 
pose of assisting the thfiiision of the pollen- Ventilate 
freely and constantly. As soon as the fruit begins to 
ripen discontinue watering, and place the plants close to 
the glass to enhance its colour and flavour. M. S. 
Cucumber House. — In this department previous direc- 
tions must be attended to. See that the plants are not 
over crowded with wood and foliage, and never allow 
them to bear heavy crops of fruit at one time, as this 
bi-ings on a prematiu'e decay. A few inches of fresh 
son over the surface of the bed, when the plants have 
been in bearing for a time, will greatly benefit them 
and improve the appearance of the house. Shading 
must now be attended to, as the sun acts very power- 
fully ; and as cold cutting winds must be avoided, it will 
be next to impossible to regulate the heat by air without 
nmning to cither exti-eme, and doing irreparable damage 
to the healthy foliage. The shading I use is a woollen 
wm^^' 
n«t, as it admits a portion of light without the sun's 
rays acting suddenly upon the plants ; the walls and 
paths must be kept moist by frequent sprinkling with 
the syiinge, and the house should be shut up early in 
the afternoon so as to increase the temperature by sun- 
heat from SO to 90 degrees. 
Dmig Bed. — Continue to remove all useless and super- 
fluous shoots and leaves, never allowing one leaf to be 
shaded by another, as that only exhausts the plant to 
the detriment of the fruit. Continue to earth up and 
sm-faee the bed, as this keeps a healthy atmosphere. If 
thrip makes its appearance, the syringe must be applied 
fireely and frequently on hot days. "When giving ail' 
with stich cutting winds as now prevail, I find it a good 
practice to place over the opening a piece of old mat, so 
that the air does not rush in upon the plants in a strong 
current, but is sifted through the small meshes of the 
old mat. If the linings ai-e very hot, I frequently on 
hot siumy days run a can of water round the insides of 
the frameSj as it prevents the soil and dimg being burned, 
which is not a condition that suits the cucumber, and 
is not rmfi'equently the principal cause of crooked 
unsightly fruit. Seed must now be sown of the most 
esteemed short prickly varieties for out-door or ridge 
culture, which I will enter into more fully in my next. 
In the meantime, dung and leaves must be collected-; 
ready for the ridges. 
Melons. — The same attention must be paid in earthing 
up as for the Cucumber, but the soil must be pressed or 
ti-odden in fiimer and surfaced over with loose soil to 
prevent its cracking. I always plant single plants tivo 
to a light, and train one shoot to the fi'out and one to 
the back from each plant, pinching out all other shoots 
that start from the base of the plant ; but never stop the 
leading shoots until they reach the back and front of the 
frame. All laterals are stopped at the first joint if they 
show fruit before the plants are strong enough to bear 
it. Pinch it out and allow as many of the friut to come 
into bloom at the same time as possible, for by so doing 
the fruit is more likely to swell equally. When the bloom 
is fuUy expanded, impregnate the same as for Cucum- 
bers. Avoid dribbliugs of water; but when necessary 
give a thorough soaking. Be sure that the plants are 
kept thin, so that the wood may become firm. If any 
canker appears upon the collar of the plants, apply fi-esh- 
slaked lime. 
Vegetable Marroic. — Make a sovving at once of the 
short-jointed or French Com'ge a la moelle, as they will 
fruit in a frame, and prove very serviceable before the 
out- door planted are fit for iise. W. T. 
FRUIT-GAEDEN.— OUT-DOOR DEPART- 
MENT. 
The weU-dning of Peach and Nectaiine trees greatly 
depends on the ripeness of the previous year's shoots ^ 
it is, therefore, of the highest importance to preserve 
the young shoots of the current year from injury, so 
that they may complete their growth, and be properly 
matured' before the dull cold weather of autumn sets in. 
If the flr.st shoots are destroyed or injured, either by 
insects or frost, the later growths never get properly 
matured, unless the trees are growing in a very porous 
soil, and in a favourable situation. The young shoots 
ai-e very liable to the attacks of green fly, which, if not 
destroyed on theii' fu-st appearance, wUl greatly retard, 
and otherwise injure them. Tobacco water is, how- 
ever, both a preventive and cure for this evil ; a slight 
syringing with it occasionally, -nTll keep the shoots 
clear of them. AVith regard to spring frosts, much dif- 
ference of opinion exists as to theu- injurious effects on 
wall trees. There are those- who dispute the utiHty of 
protecting tliem in the spring; such persons, I con- 
ceive, have gained the chief of their experience in some 
I 
si;t. 
