FEBRUARY. 
63 
should be proceeded with towards the end of the month; when potted, 
place them in a nice moist growing atmosphere. Keep them near the 
glass. Do not crowd them if you want specimens; give air in fine 
weather ; fumigate for green-fly. 
Hollyhocks .—Autumn struck cuttings, if not already in good-sized 
pots, should be re-potted without loss of time, to prevent them becoming 
pot-bound and throwing up premature spikes of bloom. Seedlings 
should be pricked off into small thumb-pots, one in each, as soon as 
their second leaf appears. Continue to put in cuttings, any struck 
during this month will flower well if attention be paid to them. 
Kitchen Garden .—This is an important time for the kitchen 
gardener; it is now that he is called upon to exercise his thinking 
faculties, for his whole success in the approaching season depends in no 
small degree on the plans and arrangements now decided upon. If the 
weather or any other circumstance has prevented autumn operations— 
such as draining, trenching, digging, &c.—from being duly carried out, 
no time should be lost in completing them. Now is a good time to 
prepare labels for naming vegetables, also for preparing Pea-rods. All 
work of this kind should be done as much beforehand as possible; they 
will then be in readiness when wanted, and will not then take labour 
from other necessary operations. If the weather be mild towards the 
end of the month. Cauliflowers and Lettuces from frames may be 
planted on warm borders. Plant Cabbages, also autumn sown Onions 
and Artichokes. Plant Eschallots and Garlic. Plant herbs of kinds. 
Plant Ash-leaved Kidney Potatoes, that have been sprouted, along the 
sides of south walls, also on warm sheltered borders; and towards the 
end of the month the whole of the early crops should be planted. Sow 
Peas and Beans twice during the month, and see that the mice do not 
disturb the Peas that are just coming up. If the land is in nice 
working condition towards the end of the month, sow some early Dutch 
Turnips, a good breadth of Parsley, also of Parsnips, and Horn Carrots 
and Spinach. Sow Savoys, Brussels Sprouts, and a few of the earlier 
kinds of Broccoli. Savoys and Brussels Sprouts are always finest when 
planted out early; they have then the summer to grow. 
Melons .—Attend well to the young plants, they require some care at 
this season to have them strong and healthy. Sow a few more of the 
early scarlet-fleshed kinds, give them a nice bottom heat. 
Orchard-house .—All that is necessary here at present is merely to 
ventilate freely when the state of the weather permits. Do not be in 
too great a hurry to water or do anything to excite growth. 
Pansies. —Re-pot at once such as are intended to be bloomed in pots 
under glass, or any other kind of protection. If the soil is sufficiently 
dry plant out into beds those wintered in pots for the purpose. Top 
dress autumn planted beds when the weather is dry and favourable. 
Peach-forcing .—If there is any secret in Peach-forcing it lies in 
flowering them under a comparatively low degree of temperature; 
under ordinary circumstances a night temperature of about 50° is a 
safe standard whilst in flower. When the fruit is set it should be 
gradually raised to 60°, which should not be exceeded until the stoning 
is over; then raise from 65° to 70°. When the fruit are all set 
