276 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOQIST. 
[ Deckmbek, 
well attended to. Maintain a niglit temperature of from 65° to 70°, and a 
moderately moist atmospliere; see that there is a bottom-heat of about 85°, and 
water when the plants require it. The plants intended to show fruit in February 
and March should not be excited at the present time; keep up a night tempera¬ 
ture of from 60° to 65°, with a moderately dry atmosphere, and give air at 
every favourable opportunity ; keep the succession plants tolerably dry; give air 
at every opportunity ; maintain a night temperature of 60° and a bottom-heat 
of about 80°, and the plants will do well. Vines : When the vines in the early house 
begin to break, increase the temperature gradually to about 60° at night, which 
will be sufficiently high until the vines come into blossom ; give air freely at 
every favourable opportunity. Peaches: Maintain a healthy atmosphere in the 
early house ; admit air when the weather permits, and do not exceed a tempera¬ 
ture of 45° at night. Figs: This is a good time to shift any plants in pots or 
tubs that require it; use turfy loam and a little leaf-soil, and plenty of drainage ; 
a few plants may now be put into a little heat for early forcing. Straiuherries : 
Protect these well in frosty weather ; a batch of plants may now be put into 
the early Peach house for forcing. 
Hardy Fruit Garden. —The planting of fruit trees recommended to be done 
last month, if not completed, should be proceeded with in fine weather. Con¬ 
tinue the pruning of fruit trees; thin the spurs well, leaving the plumpest and 
best buds that are nearest the branches ; this is a point of the greatest im¬ 
portance in fruit-tree management; when it is not attended to properly, the 
spurs get overcrowded, and very few of the buds are blossom buds, and those 
that are blossom buds are so imperfect that they never set their fruit. When 
the spurs are well thinned, and the plumpest buds are retained, the blossoms 
are always fine and perfect, and rarely fail setting fruit. Look over the stores 
in the fruit-room frequently, and pick out any fruit that shows the slightest 
symptoms of decay. 
Flower Garden. — Plant Houses: At this season of diminished light, heat 
and moisture should be reduced to the lowest degree possible compatible with 
the safety of the plants. Soft- Wooded Plants should have a good deal of atten¬ 
tion at this season; water only when absolutely necessary ; remove decaying and 
superfluous leaves, and keep the plants well tied out, so as to admit light and air ; 
keep the plants as near the glass as possible, and give air at every favourable 
opportunity. In damp dull weather light gentle fires during the day, to dry up 
the moisture and expel the damp. In frosty weather keep sufficient fire-heat to 
prevent the temperature at night falling below 40°. Hard- Wooded Plants should 
have all the air possible at every favourable opportunity, but should not be ex¬ 
posed to cold currents. Avoid fires as long as possible, and when they become 
necessary in frosty weather, carefully guard against a high temperature at nights. 
Take advantage of unfavourable weather to clean, wash, and tie out, and train 
any plants that may require it. 
