January 6, 1S83. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
17 
quarter exhibits the slightest inactivity a dressing of lime will invari¬ 
ably improve it. It is also astonishing how well vegetables thrive on 
lime. We do not apply lime in any given quantity, but use our judg¬ 
ment as to the requirements of different quarters. We do not believe in 
a heavy dressing compensating for a great deficiency, as it may be over¬ 
done, but small dressings frequently applied are most beneficial. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Melons.—S ow the seed at once for the first crop. They may cither 
Ix! sown singh' in 3-inch pots, or a dozen or more may be placed round 
the edge of a (!-inch pot, to be afterwards placed singly into 3-inch size. 
In either case the jiots should only be about two-thirds filleil with soil, 
covering the seed about half an inch deep, plunging the pots in a bottom 
heat of 80°. Goml fibrous loam and leaf soil in equal proportions gently 
pressed down will fimn a jiorous compost for the young rootlets, it being 
important for this early sowing that the pots be efficientl}^ drainal. It 
is of the gi'eatest importance that the seedlings be kept near to the glass. 
The varieties of Melons are S(j numerous that it is difficult to make a 
selection, but Rcnham Beauty, Blenheim Orange, Read's Scarlet-flesh, 
and Scarlet Premier may be named as good in the scarlet-fleshed section. 
Eastnor Castle, William Tillery, Hero of Lockinge, and Ijongleat Per¬ 
fection of the green and white-flesh sections are first-rate. Ripe fruit 
from a sowing made at this time may be expected at the close of Ajiril 
or early in M.ay. A temperature of fifi® to 70° night, and 70° to 75° day 
is suitable. 
CiTCUiiBERS. —Young plants just coming into bearing should not be 
overcropped, and assist them by removing staminate blossoms as they 
appear. Plants in bearing will require to be cut over at least twice a 
week, removing all weakly and exhausted growt's, reserving as much 
of the young growths as expand their foliage, overcrowtling tending 
more than anything to disaster, inasmuch as it must end in denuding 
the plants of a large extent of foliage. Stop the shoots at one or two 
joints beyond the fruit, but young plants should bo allowed more free- 
ilom, avoiding overerowding. The temperature by night should be 05° 
to 70°, 70° to 75° by day, with a rise of 10° or more from sun heat, ad¬ 
mitting a little air at 80° if the external air be malerately warm and 
soft, but if cold and sharp it is better to allow the temperature to ad¬ 
vance a little higher than admit too much cold air even when the sun is 
powerful. A little flowers of sulphur dusted on the foliage, walls, and 
pipes is a good ])reventive' of mildew and veil spider, and quicklime 
rubbe<l well into any part of the stems affected with canker will sulxlue 
it. The floor and other available surfaces should be dampal in the 
morning and early in the afternoon. 
Sow now for ])lanting next month in pits or frames heated by fer¬ 
menting materials, which should be in jjrocess of sweetening for making 
up the beds. If no convenience exist for raising the plants a bed of 
fermenting materials should be made up forthwith, the seed to Ixj sown 
so soon as the beil affords a suitable temperature—70° to 75°. Plants 
from this sowing will be available for house ])lanting to afford a late 
spring and early summer sui)ply of fruit. 'Telegraph, Cardiff Castle, 
and Tender and True are good varieties. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Early Forced. — In the earliest house 
the trees will be in blossom. As soon as they expand the night tem¬ 
perature may be maintained at 50° to 55°, the latter only when the 
nights are mild, 55° by day as a maximum in severe weather by artifi¬ 
cial means when the sky is overcast, 65° by day from sun heat, and if 
the air lie mild a few degi’ees (5°) more may be alloweil. Syringing at 
this dull time must cease, but damping the floor and border may lx; 
practised in the morning and early afternoon on bright days. Lose no 
opportunity of ventilating freely when external conditions are favour¬ 
able, and when the ])ollen is rij)e choose the warmest and driest part of 
the day for aiding its distribution by shaking the trees or trellis, or 
taking a camel-hair or feather and gently .applying the pollen to the 
stigma. If there be a deficiency of pollen of any variety it m.ay be taken 
from those that afford it plentifully, and apjilied to the stigmas of the 
flowers si)arsely furnisheil with that essential of a good set. The out¬ 
side border must be pirotect&l with litter or some other protective 
material, the inside border not being neglected for water. 
Seemul Early Forced /Jen/.«c.—The house containing trees to .afford 
ripe fruit early in June should now be closed, damping the trees and 
house two or three times a day, turning the heat on by day for an hour 
or two in the morTiing, but not so as to exceed 50° by artificial means, 
allowing it to rise to 65° with sun heat and free ventilation. It will 
suffice if frost bo excluded at night. The borilers must be brought into 
a thoroughly moist state by repeated w.aterings, and the outside border 
protected with litter, but not of a <lepth to heat violently. A gentle 
warmth of not more than ()0° to 65° will do no harm, but more heat is 
hurtful. All that is wanted is a covering to prevent chill from frost and 
snow. 
Late IIoUKC.'i .—These should be put into order forthwith, and if any 
trees are swelling the buds more rapidly, which is not the case where 
the roof lights have been removed, than is desired, a covering of mats j 
over the li.arhts will ])revent the temperature being raisal by sun heat to 
a prejuilicial degree, retarding the flowering considerably. 
Straicherrier in Pot.i .—Do luit jnish the plants too rapidly in severe 
weather, 50° to 55° will bo sufficiciit at night for those that were started 
last month, and 60° to 65° liy day, but it is always well to err on the 
safe side ; therefore 5° less in the absence of sun,the weather being cold, 
is advisable. More jflants should be introduced to .shelves in Peach 
houses or vineries started about this time. The pots should have the 
drainage rectified if necessary, the surface of the soil freed of moss or 
other matter, and the pots w.ashed. A surface dressing may be given of 
rich m.ateri.al, as a pinch between the finger an<l thumb of Amie.s’, Okay’s, 
Jensen’s, Beeson’s, &c., manure, stirring the surface lightly. If space 
some fine manure mixed with some bonemeal and soot—a quart each to 
a bushel of the manure and well incorporated—will prove advantageous 
and a gi'cat encourager of surface roots. Suitable varieties for intro¬ 
ducing now are La Grosso Sucree, Vicomtesse Hericart de Tliury, Sir 
Harry, atid President. Noble (Laxton) ])rf)mises to prove an admirable 
variety for forcing. 
Cherry House .—The house being closed last month as advised, fire 
heat may now be applied so as to maintain a temperature by artificial 
means of not more than 40° at night and 45° in the day, advancing 10° 
by sun heat, ventilating .at 50°, and closing at that point. Ventilate 
very freely in mild weather, and avoid hasty treatment in the early 
stages of growth. See that trees in jwts or tubs are not neglectetl 
for water, and sprinkle the trees and house occasionally in the morning 
and afternoon in bright weather. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Loam .—If not already under cover a good supply should be wheeled 
in without delay and broken up ready for potting purposes as oppor¬ 
tunities offer. It is best to break it up with the hand, so that worms 
can be removed as the work proceeds. That intended for choice plants 
should have the fine removed, in fact all that will pass through the 
meshes of a |-inch sieve. The latter can be passed through a fine sieve,, 
so that there will be three sizes ready for potting and seed-sowing when 
these operations require attention. It is surprising how rapidly work 
can be pushi'.d on at that bu.sy season when the soil is ready for lifting 
on the bench and only needs mixing. Every effort should be made at 
this season of the year to have all in readine.ss to forward work that will 
press heavily in every direction. 
Peat .—This should be sorted into three distinct qualities, for Orchids, 
Ferns, and hardwooded plants. P'or the first that possessing the most 
and toughest fibre will be satisfactory ; for the Ferns the lightest and 
least fibrous portion will do very well, while that of the hardest should 
be selected for the third class of plants. In the preparation of that for 
Orchids break up with the hand and remove all the fine from amongst, 
the fibre. The soil portion will be found useful for small Ferns and 
many stove plants in a small state. In each of the other two cases the 
peat may be stored as broken up, but roots and the rhizomes of Ferns 
in each case should be removed, for they have a tendency to create 
fungus when they dec.ay. Remove all grassy matter from the top of the 
turves, but do not throw it away, as is too often the case. It is valuable 
for placing over the drainage to prevent the fine particles of soil clogging 
it and thus render it useless. 
Manure .—Cow manure that was stacked under cover in autumn and 
is sufficiently dry, shouhl be rubbed through a half-inch sieve. Horse 
droppings that have been prepared by being frequently turned to 
sweeten it, may also be passed through the same sieve. This must not 
be stored too thickly afterwards, or it will heat violently, and thus be 
practically useless. Old Mushroom bed refuse may be passed through a. 
larger sieve, and stored ready for use under cover. That which remains 
in the sieve should be preserved ready for placing over the drainage of 
Fuchsias, Bals.ams, Coleuses, and plants that require liberal supplies of 
manure. The necessary supply of artificials must be ordered so that 
they will be ready for use when wanted. Those purchased in bags 
should upon arrival be placed in tins or large jars that can be made 
secure at the top. The necessary quantity of half, quarter, and fine 
bones may also be obtained ready for the time when they are needed. 
Ljcaf Soil .—This useful vegetable soil must be stored in quantity. 
It should be passed through a half or three-quarter-inch sieve, to be 
certain of removing all small pmces of wood or Beech nuts, and it is 
often necessary to pass the mould through a finer sieve. Provide a good 
heap of very fine material, for it will be found invaluable for mixing in 
fine composts that are needed for seeds. A good supply of rough 
material must also be at hand, and in a suitable condition for placing 
over the crocks in pots, pans, and boxes, that may be required for a 
variety of purposes. 
Sand .—The necessary supply for the season can also be provided if 
it was not stored in autumn, which is the best time to purchase it 
before it becomes saturated by heavy rains. Two samples, one coarse^ 
and the other fine, will be found the most serviceable, although this is 
not absolutely necessary. For years we have only had one sample, and 
that a very fine one. For special purposes a supply is washed as oppor¬ 
tunities occur. 
Charcoal and Crochs.—ThQ former should be sortel into various 
sizes, and is there is an insufficiency of small, some may be broken ,up 
so that it will not have to be done when it is wanted. All crocks may 
be washed and then passed through various sized sieves. Five or six 
different sizes must be prepared, and then the drainage of pots is not a 
long process. When the crocks have to be broken when needed it 
takes nearly as long as potting the plants. 
Sphaynum Moss .—Sort this from time to time until sufficient has 
been prepared for potting all the Orchids and other plants that need 
it. Keep the rough material for placing over drainage, the green heads 
being selected for top-dressin?, and the remainder can be chojiped up 
ready for use. The selected heads will quickly improve if they are 
placed in an intermediate temperature and syringed occasionally. 
Pots .— See that the stock of these is ample for the pur[X)ses required 
