52 ' 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[Maech, 
as early in the month as possible ; the soil, if dry and not very heavy, can hardly bo made ton 
firm, by treading, for these. Carrots and Parsnips for main crops towards the end ; Round 
Spinach and Turnips for succession ; Asparagus towards the end of the month ; Savoys, Brussels 
Sprouts, and Broccoli at the beginning of the month ; Parsley a good breadth ; Radishes twicn 
during the month ; Cauliflowers and Lettuces about the middle of the month ; Mustard and Cress 
in a gentle hot-bed. Celery, Tomato, and Capsicums in hot-bed; Sweet Marjoram, Sweet 
Basil, and other herbs m a gentle hot-bed. All vegetables are best sown in drills ; grown in 
this way, they are generally larger and finer, and it facilitates the labour of thinning and 
hoeing the crops. 
Forcing-Houses. — Pines: Where the bottom-heat is supplied by tan or 
leaves, it will now require looking to. Sufficient fresh material should be added 
to the beds to carry the plants now showing fruit, as well as those about to show^ 
through the season ; those swelling off their fruit should have more water given, 
them. Plants showing fruit and in flower will require attention in maintaining- 
a dry warm atmosphere, and in giving air daily, if possible. The succession plants- 
will require shifting, which should be done as carefully and expeditiously as 
possible, so as to prevent any injurious consequences to the plants ; after potting, 
they should be kept rather close for a week or two, until they begin to root into 
the fresh soil, when air may be admitted more freely. Pines will grow in a great 
variety of soil, but they dislike sandy or chalky soils ; I have grown them for 
several years in a sort of peat we get in the park here, and they root in it freely^ 
and grow away vigorously. Vines : Maintain a steady night temperature in the 
early house whilst the stoning is going on. Attend to the thinning, stopping,, 
and tying-down of the shoots in the succession-houses, and to the thinning of the 
berries as soon as possible after they are nicely set. Muscats should have a night 
temperature of 70® whilst they are in flower. Peaches: Attend to the tying- 
down of the shoots as they advance in growth ; look carefully over the trees, and 
if too many fruit are still left on, remove some, leaving a few more than sufficient 
for a crop until after stoning, as some may drop off then ; water inside borders 
freely, and give abundance of air as early in the day as the weather will permit. 
Attend to disbudding and the thinning of the fruit in the succession-houses ; 
syringe daily, and maintain a moist atmosphere. Figs: Those in pots and tubs 
will now require to be watered liberally, and occasionally they should have soma 
liquid manure; syringe over-head on fine days. Cherries: These will require careful 
management whilst stoning ; keep a steady night temperature of from 55° to 60° : 
see that there is a gentle bottom-heat, and give air freely if the weather permits. 
Cucumhers and Melons: If grown on dung-beds, attend to the linings, so as to 
keep up a proper heat; earth up, stop shots, peg down, and water as they require- 
it. When grown in pits heated with hot water, there is much less labour and 
trouble in growing them. Sow for successional crop. 
Hardy Fruit Garden. —All pruning and nailing should now be completed 
with as httle delay as possible. As soon as the blossoms begin to expand, but 
not before, apply protection to Apricots^ Peaches, and Nectarines. Good strong 
canvas is as cheap and efficient for temporary protection as the generahty of 
materials recommended for this purpose; it'should be so fitted that it can be 
