CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY. 
47 
greenhouse the grapes should be pruned without delay, and the 
former erection must be closed according to the time the ripe 
fruit is desired ; for the first fortnight no fire-heat need be ap¬ 
plied, and afterwards the temperature must be increased in a 
gradual manner ; for such vines as have broken into leaves, keep 
a moist atmosphere either by syringing the pipes and floor, or by 
making a bed of fresh stable-litter in the house; the ammonia 
evolved from the fermenting dung is highly beneficial to the vines. 
French beans require constant attention; successional crops 
should be sown every third week, and those in advancing stages 
will require potting as soon as the first leaves are fairly developed; 
it is usual to put three plants into a twelve-inch pot: they require 
a brisk moist heat, and must be kept close to the glass; when 
the plants have grown two joints they should be stopped, to in¬ 
duce bushiness and precocity. The first crop of strawberries 
may be introduced to heat in the course of the month, previous 
to which they should be placed in cold frames for some time, and 
by keeping them closely shut up, the transition is made more 
gradual; succession crops of these should be forwarded a stage 
in the manner described. Peaches should be pruned, cleaned, 
and tied, the house closed, and preparations made for beginning 
operations in this department. It is not unusual to grow figs 
against the back wall of this house; in cases where this is 
adopted, the trees should be nailed in at once. We have also 
forced raspberries successfully along with peaches; these may be 
taken up and planted in the borders of the house or potted; the 
first is most convenient, because the canes can be tacked to the 
wall. Gooseberries and currants may also be added for the sake 
of early green fruit. 
Fruiting pines will require a high and rather dry heat to ripen 
them off; the successional plants may be repotted now if neces¬ 
sary, or deferred till next month; a lively bottom-heat must be 
maintained, and a surface temperature to correspond. 
In the melon ground the first requisite is an abundant supply 
of fermenting material in all stages, from the raw unworked dung 
to that fit for immediate use, any deficiency in this respect must 
be carefully guarded against. Cucumbers will occupy a great 
deal of attention; a seedling bed, as it is called, for raising the 
plants, should be got up with well-worked dung, and having a 
