508 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 30, 1882. 
Mai, which will render this excellent yielder of silk less difficult 
to rear in confinement.—J. It. S. C. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Forcing Department .—Attention will now be needed to ensure a 
liberal supply of Asparagus, Seakale, and Rhubarb. For Asparagus) 
pits capable of holding sufficient fermenting material to preserve for 
some time a temperature of from 70° to 80° are useful, and the pits 
should also be furnished with hot-water pipes, and have moveable 
lights, so that at suitable times an abundant supply of fresh air can 
be afforded, as without this the flavour will be very inferior. In order 
to have a supply at Christmas a bed composed of leaves and stable 
litter should be made now and trodden down firmly. Place 2 or 3 inches 
depth of light rich soil on the surface, and at the temperature above 
indicated the roots should be introduced, spreading them out and 
mixing light soil amongst them. Water wfith tepid water, and cover 
the crowns with finely sifted spent tan. 
Seakale in quantity can be forced in this w r ay, but a lower degree 
of heat is needed than for Asparagus, and light must be excluded 
so as to secure well-blanched heads. This with Rhubarb is most 
readily forced in the Mushroom house; fresh roots being introduced 
at intervals according to the demand will afford an uninterrupted 
succession. 
Where Chicory is used for salads roots should be introduced to 
the Mushroom house, potting them in large pots, or planting in 
light rich soil kept moist by watering as needed with tepid water. 
The tops should be cut off an inch from the crown, but not so close 
as to injure the growing point. It is necessary that light be excluded 
to secure well-blanched heads. 
Make an occasional sowing of Prench Beans according to the 
space at command, earthing up those sufficiently advanced, and 
supply weak tepid liquid manure to those in flower and podding. 
Keep them near the glass, and ventilate freely when the weather is 
favourable. Mustard and Cress must be sown at intervals according 
to the demand. Yentilate freely frames which contain Radishes, 
Cauliflowers, Lettuces, and Endive, tying up or covering the last 
named to effect the blanching. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Peaches and Nectarines .—The house containing the earliest trees 
having been closed artificial heat may now be commenced, turning 
on the heat in the morning for an hour or two so as to raise the 
temperature to 50°, opening the house at that temperature, allowing 
a free circulation of air through the house, but not to lower the tem¬ 
perature, allowing an advance of 10° to 15° from sun heat, and close 
early in the afternoon, damping the trees at the same time if the 
weather be bright. Syringing the trees should only be resorted to 
on fine mornings and afternoons. Fire heat will only be necessary 
at night to keep the temperature from falling below 40°. An appli¬ 
cation of tepid liquid manure to the roots of weakly trees in inside 
borders will greatly assist the swelling of the buds and strengthen 
the blossom. 
The lights should be placed on the house intended to be started 
early next year, and the ventilators kept open day and night except¬ 
ing when the temperature falls to 40°, when they may be closed. As 
the trees become denuded of foliage in the late houses thoroughly 
cleanse the house, and if the trees are infested with scale it may be 
removed by syringing with water at a temperature of 160°. Remove 
the loose surface soil down to the roots, and supply fresh loam to 
which has been added a sprinkling of half-inch bones and some 
charred refuse. See that there is not any deficiency of moisture at 
the roots of trees in inside borders, for if allowed to become dry 
now it is likely the bloom buds will fall when they should be swell¬ 
ing. Keep the houses as cool as possible by free ventilation. 
Vines .—In houses that were closed early in the month the Yines 
are now starting, and if the terminal buds are taking the lead the 
stems should be brought down to a horizontal position or below it. 
The parts that are not breaking freely should be syringed with 
tepid water three or more times a day, and when they have made an 
inch or two of growth the rods or canes should be secured in proper 
position. Turn over the fermenting material and add some freshly 
prepared material to be worked in as the turning proceeds. The 
inside border must be examined down to the drainage, and if any of 
the soil be dry repeated waterings of weak liquid manure or water 
at a temperature of 90° must be given until the whole of the border 
is thoroughly moistened through. The outside borders must, if they 
have been covered with fermenting material, be attended to so as 
to maintain the heat in them at 80° to 90, and if lights or shutters 
be placed over all but not resting on the material, with a sharp 
incline to the front to throw off the water, it will add considerably 
to the endurance and regularity of the heat in the fermenting 
materials. When the weather is mild admit air for a short time. 
The night temperature should be kept at G0°, falling on cold 
nights, G5° in the daytime on cold and dull days, 5° more in mild 
weather, and 10° rise from sun heat. 
Houses of Vines to afford ripe Grapes in May must be closed at 
once. The outside border should be covered with some dry material 
and shutters or lights to throw off rain or snow. Fermenting ma¬ 
terials may be used in quantity, but they are positively injurious if 
allowed to become cold and wet when the Yines are in active growth. 
If some sweetened fermenting materials—Oak or Beech leaves with 
a third or fourth of stable litter—be introduced to the house, and 
formed into a bed about 2 feet in height, and turned over occa¬ 
sionally, and fresh material added as the heat declines, it will save 
fuel, induce a good break from the moisture-laden and ammonia- 
charged atmosphere generated by the fermenting materials. The 
house and Yines should be damped turn or three times a day. In 
dull weather the moisture given off by the fermenting materials 
will be sufficient, and even where they are not employed less 
moisture will be needed in dull weather than in bright sharp 
weather. Artificially the temperature should be kept at 55° at night, 
5° less on cold nights, which should likewise be the artificial tem¬ 
perature by day, upon which an advance should be made from sun 
heat to 65°. The inside borders must be rendered thoroughly moist 
by repeated w r aterings. 
Figs .—The first batch of trees in pots for forcing early should 
now be attended to, in order to destroy any insects which now exist 
in embryo and will infest the trees at a more advanced stage. The 
trees should in the first instance be brushed over with soap and 
water, and afterwards with an insecticide, care being taken not to 
rub off the young fruit. Very little pruning will be necessary pro¬ 
vided the trees have been regularly pinched-in or stopped during 
growth, but if thinning or shortening the shoots be necessary to 
keep the trees symmetrical- it should be attended to. A slight 
warmth at the roots is a great aid for early-forced trees in pots. The 
trees may be stood on pedestals of open brickwork in the positions 
they are to occupy, bringing them near to the glass, as free exposure 
to the light is absolutely essential to success, and the trees should not 
be overcrow'ded. Oak or Beech leaves, with a fourth of stable litteri 
should be thrown into a heap, damped if necessary, and being turned 
over a few times be placed in the bed and brought up about the 
pots, but care must be taken not to allow the heat around the pots 
to exceed 70° to 75°. The soil must be rendered thoroughly moist by 
repeated watering or immersing in tepid w r ater. The house should 
be closed, and a start made at the close of the present or early in 
next month to have fruit ripe by the close of April or early in May, 
damping the trees and available surfaces in the morning and early 
afternoon in bright weather, but when dull the moisture given out by 
the fermenting materials will be ample. At the commencement 50° to 
55° by artificial means must not be exceeded, and 65° from sun heat, 
at and above which ventilate freely. 
The trees permanently planted out and intended for early forcing 
must be untied from the trellis and pruned, thoroughly cleansing the 
house, and dressing the trees before securing them to the trellis. 
