18 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ January, 
month sow Radishes and Early Horn Carrots , in frames on a gentle hot-bed. 
Keep up a supply of Mustard and Cress by sowing weekly in boxes, to be placed 
in a vinery at work. Prepare some Ashleaf Kidney Potatos for planting by plac¬ 
ing them in a gentle heat to sprout. Look over Lettuces and Caulijloivers in 
frames and under hand-lights; remove decayed leaves, stir the surface soil, and 
dress with soot or lime if slugs are troublesome. To keep up a succession of 
Asparagus , a fresh bed should be made every three or four weeks ; a bottom-heat 
from 65° to 70° is sufficient. Cover up SeaJcale and Rhubarb for forcing, or lift 
the roots and plant them thickly on a gentle hot-bed. Keep a good heap of 
fermenting materials always in readiness for hot-beds and linings. 
Pines that are swelling their fruit should be watered freely when they require 
it, but guard against a too moist atmosphere ; maintain a temperature of from 
65° to 70° by night, and 75° to 80° by day. Towards the end of the month 
some of the more forward of the spring fruiters will be showing fruit; these 
should have a slight increase of bottom-heat, and a little more moisture to the 
roots, to enable the plants to throw up vigorously ; give air whenever the state 
of the weather will permit. Don’t be in a hurry to excite the succession plants ; 
give them air at every favourable opportunity; see that the bottom-heat does 
not get much below 80°, and maintain a temperature of about GO 0 at night, and 
70° during the day. Vines in the early house will now be in bloom, and should 
have every attention; maintain a temperature of from 60° to 65° at night, and 
70° to 75° by day, with an increase of 6° or 8° by sun-heat. Start succession- 
houses, commencing with a low temperature, and increasing the heat gradually. 
If the roots are in outside borders, these should be well covered with fermenting 
materials. Peaches should have the heat increased a few degrees in the early 
house ; admit air freely at every favourable opportunity ; and give the inside 
borders a good soaking with tepid water. Prepare the second house for starting ; 
commence with a low temperature and increase gradually. Figs may now be 
started; give them a good watering, syringe two or three times daily, and main¬ 
tain a moist atmosphere. Begin with a moist temperature of 45°, rising by day 
to 55°, and in the course of two or three weeks increase the heat gradually so as 
to give an advance of 8° or 10° ; give air freely in open weather. Strawberries 
of the first batch require some attention at this season to ensure satisfactory 
results. If the weather be severe when the plants are in flower, so that they can 
have but little air, and a good deal of fire-heat, they u go blind,” to prevent 
which, keep the plants near the glass, give air 'at every opportunity, avoid a high 
night temperature, and water with tepid water. A second batch of plants should 
be introduced about three weeks after the first, and a fresh batch every succeed¬ 
ing fortnight during the season, so as to keep up a regular supply. 
In open weather Fruit-trees of all kinds may be planted, and with proper 
management will do well; but the autumn is a much better season for planting, 
and when it can be done then, it should never be deferred until now. See that 
