1870.] 
THE GARDEN MENTOR. 
103 
ripening. Keep laterals stopped ; remove all superfluous shoots ; thin the berries 
as soon as they are fit. Attend to the thinning, stopping, and tying-in of the 
shoots in the late houses. Keep up good fires whilst the vines are in flower. 
Peaches: Keep the inside borders well watered whilst the fruit is swelling off ; 
when it begins to ripen, gradually withhold water, and give abundance of air. 
Syringe late houses every afternoon ; keep up a moist atmosphere, and have all 
the shoots stopped and tied down. Figs: As the first crop of fruit will now be 
ripening, only sufiScient water should be given to prevent the second crop of 
fruit from falling off; give air freely, and keep a moist atmosphere, to keep down 
the red spider. Strawberries: When very large fine fruit is required, the weaker 
blossoms should be pinched off, as soon as a few of the finest blooms are set, and 
the plants should have a clear, moist atmosphere, as near the glass as possible, and 
should be frequently watered with liquid manure. Cucumbers and Melons: Keep 
a steady bottom-heat to both. Do not let Cucumber plants carry too much fruit 
at one time, as this soon weakens them ; keep a moist atmosphere, and try to keep 
the foliage clean and healthy. Put some slates or pieces of glass under Melons^ 
to prevent the soil from damaging the fruit, and lift them near to the glass. 
Plant for successional crops. 
Hardy Fruit Garden. —All the materials used for coverings should be 
removed clean away as soon as the fruit is considered safe from all injury from 
frosts. Apricots, Peaches^ and Nectarines have been very full of blossom, and 
have set very thickly; they will be a good crop everywhere this season. The 
fruit should be well thinned at once, and should be looked over once or twice 
afterwards, to see that too many are not left on for a crop. The disbudding of 
the shoots must now be regularly attended to. It is better to go over the trees 
at intervals of a few days, removing some shoots each time, than to remove them 
all at once. The trees should have a few good syringings on fine afternoons with 
the garden engine, to cleanse them from filth and insects. Attend to the stopping 
of all fore-right shoots on Apricots^ Pears^ Plums, and Cherries. Mulch, if not 
previously done, and water newly-planted trees. If the weather be dry. Straw¬ 
berries will be benefited by a good soaking of water; but if it cannot be done 
effectually, it should not be attempted. 
Flower Garden. — Plant Houses: Abundance of air should now be given at 
every favourable opportunity. The greatest watchfulness and attention will be 
necessary to keep down insects, which on no account should be allowed to get 
ahead. Soft-wooded plants NAihe growing freely and vigorously. Shift all plants 
that may require it; water freely overhead, and close up early in the afternoon. 
Pelargoniums will now require a good deal of attention; give them plenty of 
room, and tie out the shoots as they require it; they will also require liberal 
supplies of water. A good batch of Fuchsias should be shifted, and grown on for 
autumn decoration. Salvias and other plants for autumn decoration should now 
be shifted, or grown on in a genial atmosphere. Towards the end of the 
