1876. ] 
GARDEN WORK FOR JANUARY. 
■F' 
11 
done judiciously ; no rule can be laid down here, but in every way avoid cold 
draughts, especially on chilling days.— Henry Knight, Floors Castle. 
FRUITS. 
Pines: Plants swelling off their fruit require a night-temperature of 70,° 
with a rise of 10° to 15° by day. Tepid manure-water must be given to those 
which require it at the root, but great care must be exercised in the use of this 
important element until the days increase in length. Plants which have finished 
swelling should be removed to a drier atmosphere, where full exposure to the 
light will improve the colour and flavour of the fruit. Plants that are coming 
into flower or showing fruit will require great care as to moisture, otherwise 
abortive pips will be the result. Successions intended for fruiting next autumn 
must be kept steadily growing; a night-temperature of about 60,° with a mode¬ 
rate amount of humidity, will be sufficient for the present. Have a good supply 
of soil under cover in a dry warm place, ready for use next month. 
Vines: The system of keeping late Grapes up to the middle of May having 
been reduced to a certainty, many Grape-growers do not commence forcing before 
December; but where the earliest house was started in the previous month, 
attention must now be paid to disbudding, tying-down, and stopping the most 
forward shoots, according to the space they have to fill. Eemove all surplus 
bunches from Hamburgh and other free-setting kinds, as soon as the best shows 
for the crop can be decided upon, and commence thinning when the berries have 
attained the size of No. 6 shot. Gradually raise the night-temperature to 60°, 
allowing it to rise 10° to 15° by day. Give air on all favourable occasions, 
closing early, and maintaining a genial growing atmosphere by means of frequent 
syringings on the walls and floor. Assuming that the second house has been 
thoroughly cleansed and prepared for shutting up, the inside border should be 
well soaked with water at a temperature of 90°, and if a good body of fermenting 
material can be introduced, but little fire will be needed to keep up a night 
temperature of 50° to 55°. Look over late Grapes twice a week for decaying 
berries, and aim at a steady temperature of 45°. Push on the forcing of all late 
houses from which the fruit has been removed, an operation the importance of 
which is sometimes overlooked. 
Peaches and Nectarines: Where very early Peaches and Nectarines are re¬ 
quired, and pits or small houses are at command, one or two dozen trees, selected 
from the best early kinds, established in pots, and plunged in gentle bottom-heat, 
will give a few dishes of fruit early in May, but the quality will be inferior to 
that obtained from permanent trees. A night-temperature of 45° to 50,° with 
a rise of 10° to 15° from sun-heat, will be sufficient, with air on all favourable 
occasions until the blossoms begin to expand, when the atmosphere must be kept 
drier, with increased ventilation. Shake the trees frequently to distribute the 
pollen, and to make success certain ; go over the flowers daily with a camel-hair 
pencil, choosing the brightest part of the day for the operation. When the fruit 
is set, the inside border may have a good watering; disbudding must be attended 
to ; and the minimum temperature may rise to 55°. Use fire cautiously, syringe 
freely, and fumigate if aphis should put in an appearance. 
Cherries : A light, well-ventilated structure is necessary for the production of 
an early crop. If the pots are plunged in leaves, the bottom-heat must not 
exceed 50°. Syringe freely, to induce the buds to swell ; maintain a night-tem¬ 
perature of 45°, with an increase of 10° by day. Give plenty of air, but carefully 
guard against cold draughts. 
