590 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 30, 1886. 
Radishes at all times succeed best in a firm soil. The young plan's will 
appear in a week, and they must never be allowed to become crowded, as 
they are so easily “drawn” that the slightest overcrowding will spoil 
them. Air should be admitted to them on fine days, but water at the 
root is rarely needed on hotbeds at this season. If the seed is sown at 
once they would be ready for the table by the first week in February. 
The Earliest Seed Potatoes. —Where Potatoes are planted in 
frames and other sheltered positions in January and February the seed 
tubers should now be taken in hand, as it is a great Jad vantage to have 
them with strong healthy sprouts at the time of planting. If they are 
left in heaps on the top of each other until the time of planting, as’is 
often the case, the sprouts will be long and spindly, and of benefit in 
advancing the earliness of the crop; in fact, many of these elongated 
stems are broken in planting and they should be avoided, but if they are 
spread out in a single layer in light and air every one of them will pro¬ 
duce robust growths, which will not fail to give satisfaction. Where there 
is no shed to sprout them in this way they should be stood up on their 
ends in shallow boxes, and, placed in a frame or cool glass house, they 
will soon be in excellent condition for planting. We have proved that 
Potatoes sprouted with care in the manner we suggest are a fortnight 
earlier than those not so treated when lifting time comes round. 
Chicory. —The recent frosts have been hard on Lettuce and Endive, 
and open air salad plants are now very scarce, and where salads are in 
frequent demand those who have to provide them will find it no easy 
matter to do so. Chicory, however, is the best substitute we know for 
Lettuces and Endive, and a superb salad may be made with Chicory, 
Mustard and Cress and Beetroot. The latter three are easily secured, 
and so is the former, as where the roots were grown in the summer and 
autumn they may now be forced into luxuriant growth in a fortnight. 
They should be dug from the ground without breaking the Carrot-like 
roots, and six, eight, or ten of them may be potted into 8-inch or 9-inch 
pots ; they should then lie plunged in a bottom heat of 80° or 85° in a dark 
place, and crisp leaves will soon follow. 
Early Lettuces. —Where seed was sown in autumn with the view 
of securing plants at this time from 3 inches to 4 inches high, a stock of 
early spring Lettuce will be secure, but where no such provision was made 
a blank will occur unless seed is sown at once. Veitch’s Early Paris 
Maiket is the earliest of all Lettuce, and a pinch or two of this variety 
should be sown at once in a shallow box or pan. The seed may be ger¬ 
minated in a heat of 65°, but as soon as the young plants appear they 
should be put in a temperature of 45° or 50°, kept near the glass, and well 
aired on all favourable opportunities. These plants will be ready for 
planting by the first week in February, and fine crisp young heads may 
be cut by Easter or earlier where proper attention is given them. 
Seakale. —We are cutting this now, but it is the least satisfactory of 
all our early vegetables, as it is not so easily forced as Asparagus, before 
the now year at least. Now, however, it grows more freely and luxu¬ 
riantly, and a good number of roots should be put into force at once. The 
pot and hotbed system of forcing may be followed, or the roots may be 
lifted, potted in batches, and forced on in a warm dark place. This 
system has given us our produce now, but if the pots are turned upside 
down over good crowns, and these are well banked round with hot manure, 
Seakale will become abundant in a short time. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Earliest House .—The trees started 
early in the month will now be in flower. The temperature from fire 
heat should be 50° by day in dull weather, rising to 65° with sun heat, air 
being freely admitted in the day and a little at night, a stagnant atmo¬ 
sphere being fatal to the blossom. In cold weather the temperature may 
fall to 40° at night. A moderate moisture in the atmosphere will suffice. 
In bright weather the floor or border may be sprinkled in the morning, 
keeping the soil in a moderately moist state at the surface and thoroughly 
moist beneath. Insure the distribution of the pollen by shaking the 
trees, admitting air in fine weather so as to insure a circulation of air, 
which has a wonderful effect on the liberation of the pollen. To avoid 
any anxiety after the setting dust the blossoms carefully with a camel’s 
hair brush or a feather. Take pollen from those varieties that afford it 
freely, such as Royal George, and apply it where there is a deficiency. 
Second House .—The house having been closed fire heat may be used, 
so as to afford a temperature of 50° by day and 40° at night, allowing it 
to rise to 65° by day with sun heat, accompanied by plenty of ventilation, 
sprinkling the trees morning and afternoon until the blossom commences 
to open, when the sprinkling of the floor in the place of the trees will be 
sufficient. If the roots are partly outside that part of the border should 
be covered with leaves' and litter, so as to keep the roots from being 
chilled by frost or melted snow. The inside borders must be rendered 
thoroughly moist by repeated waterings. 
Later houses should be placed in order at once, and if any trees are 
swelling their buds more rapidly than is desired a covering of mats over 
the lights will prevent the temperature being raised by sun heat to a pre¬ 
judicial degree, retarding the flowering considerably. 
Cucumbers.— Young plants coming into bearing should not be over¬ 
cropped, assisting them by removing unnecessary fruit blossoms, also 
male flowers and tendrils. Plants in Searing will require to be cut over 
at least twice a week, removing all weakly and exhausted growths, re¬ 
serving as much of the young growths as have space for expanding their 
foliage. Stop the shoots at one or two joints beyond the fruit, but young 
plants should be allowed more freedom, laying the foundation of a well 
furnished plant, avoiding overcrowding. In mild weather the tempera¬ 
ture should be 65° to 70° at night. In severe weather 60° to 65° at night 
is more suitable ; by day 70° to 75°, with a rise of 10° from sun heat, 
admitting a little air at 80° if the outside air be moderately warm and 
soft ; but if cold and sharp it is better to allow the temperature to advanoe 
a little higher than admit cold air even when the sun is powerful, the 
heat turned off when there is hot sun will do much to lessen the necessity 
for ventilation. A little flowers of sulphur dusted on the foliage and hot- 
water pipes is a good preventive of mildew and red spider. Quicklime 
rubbed well into the parts affected with canker will subdue it. The 
floors will need damping in the morning and early afternoon. 
Raising Plants. —Sow now for raising plants to put out in pits or 
frames early in February, which are heated by fermenting materials. If 
no convenience exists for raising the plants a bed of fermenting materials 
should be made forthwith, the seed to be sown so soon as the frame affords- 
a suitable temperature—70° to 75°. The plants from this sowing will be 
available for planting to afford a late spring and early summer supply of 
fruit, under good treatment fruit being forthcoming in March and early 
April. No variety surpasses Rollisson’s Telegraph for general use. 
Melons.— Seed to afford plants for the first crop may now be sown- 
Fruit from this sowing may be expected in late April or early May. Sow 
singly in 3-inch pots, filling the pots about two-thirds full of soil mode¬ 
rately light in texture, which will allow of soil being added as the seed¬ 
lings advance, strengthening them wonderfully. They should be kept 
near the glass, the object being to secure a short stem and sturdy growth. 
A temperature of 65° to 70° at night, and 70° to 75° by day is suitable. 
Longleat Perfection is an excellent green or white flesh, and Blenheim 
Orange scarlet flesh. If variety is wanted have Eastnor Castle, Hero of 
Lockinge, both green flesh, with Bonham Beauty and Scarlet Premier 
scarlet flesh. 
Pines. —In most establishments where Pine Apples are grown there 
is a demand for ripe in May and June. It will be necessary to take into 
consideration the present condition of plants that are to afford that supply. 
Where there was a good show of fruit of such varieties as Smooth-leaved 
Cayenne, Charlotte Rothschild, Black Jamaica, Montserrat, with Black 
Prince in October and November, the necessity of starting plants now 
will net be so imperative as where there was not a sufficient number of 
those varieties showing fruit at the time named, and as fruit of those 
indicated starting now will not be ripe at the requisite time, plants of the 
Queen, Enville, and Providence varieties, which require less time to 
arrive at perfection, should be induced to start their fruit. Select from 
the successional stock plants that have been subjected to somewhat cool 
and dry treatment, choosing those that have an enlarged base with a 
tendency to open in the centre. Place in a light house or pit, and plunge 
them in a brisk bottom heat of 85° or 90°, the atmospheric heat ranging 
between 60° and 70° at night, according to external conditions, allowing 
from 5° to 10° more by day. A genial atmospheric moisture must be kept 
up about the plants, but not by steaming from the hot-water pipes or 
syringing the bed between the plants, but by occasionally damping cool 
surfaces about the house. The soil must be examined once a week, 
employing tepid water with a little guano in it or some other approved 
stimulant, applying it copiously when needed and at no other time. 
Tomatoes. —Where plants have not been raised from cuttings made 
in autumn seed should now be sown rather thinly in light soil and placed 
in a house where there is a temperature of 55° or 65°. We prefer to sow 
singly in 3-inch pots half filled with soil and to place near the glass. The 
plants are earthed up as they require it, and are transferred to 48’s— i.e., 
5 inch pots—with the balls entire. From these they are planted in the 
fruiting bed, which ensures a depth of about 12 inches for soil, the part 
under being stubble, over and surrounding hot-water pipes—in fact, the 
exact counterpart of a Cucumber house. The b Atom heat makes much 
difference, just as it does with Cucumbers, especially for winter and early 
crops, but it is not essential. The plants should be encouraged to make 
a sturdy growth, keeping them well up to the light. Plant them out 
when they have filled the 5-inch pots with roots in ridges the whole length 
of the house and about one foot wide at top, had in some few days to 
warm and down to the first leaves, making the soil firm so as to ensure a 
sturdy growth. The plants should be 18 inches apart. Train to wires a 
foot from the glass, with one stem, keeping off all side shoots, and the 
plants will be single cordons. Fruit will show right along, therefore 
stop only when the last truss is gained on the extent of the space. Good 
loam with a fifth of well-decayed manure will grow them well, but some 
lime rubble, about a sixth, and a free admixture of charcoal, is advan¬ 
tageous. A 2-feet width of border is ample, the plants being earthed as the 
roots protrude. Surface dressings and liquid manure can be given when 
the roots have possession of the soil. Where cutting plants are forth¬ 
coming they be planted out at once, affording a night temperature of 55° 
to 60°, 60° to 65° by day, and 70° to 75° from sun heat, ventilating from 
65°. In dull, damp weather a crack of air should be left on constantly, 
as a close atmosphere is very enfeebling. ,When in flower veDtilaie 
freely. The bottom heat should not exceed 70° to 75°. Early fruit can be 
had from plants in pots, 8-inch or larger being employed, the pots being 
filled about two-thirds with s il, and that spice lift after planting for 
surfacing. Train with one stem, and keep well tip t) the light. About 
five trusses of fruit are good f w pot plants. Hack wool Park Prolific is a 
re'iable sort. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Jecoras. —The whole of the stock must be kept free from insects, for 
thrips quickly destroy the foliage, and scale and bug check the growth. 
Syringe the plants with a solution of tobacco water if they have even a 
trace of thrips upon them. Those that flowered in the autumn may have 
any irregular growths cut back, but in o'her respects should be kept quiet 
