32 
THE FLORIST. 
trenching ought ere this to be done, after the extraordinary fine weather 
we have had. In frosty weather get manure wheeled upon vacant 
ground, and placed in heaps where it will be wanted a little later. 
Push forward, in open weather, any trenching or digging that requires 
being done. Char the prunings of trees, as this makes a good manure. 
Peach-forcing. —In frosty weather see that outside borders have a 
proper covering of fermenting material. The night temperature should 
not much exceed 50° for this month ; and the day temperature should 
not exceed 60°, except in sunshine, when it may rise ten or twelve 
degrees. Water inside borders with water of the temperature of the 
house. Syringe the trees two or three times daily, until they come 
into bloom ; keep up a moist growing atmosphere. 
Pelargoniums. —Finish the repotting of all the plants that require it, 
as early as possible, and attend to keeping them free from decayed foliage 
and insects that are injurious to them. Now the selection of plants for the 
May Shows and for early flowering should be made; select from those 
that are well-established in their blooming pots and place them in a 
house as near the glass as possible, where the range of the thermometer 
may be from 50° at night to 60° during the day. Water sparingly at 
first, increasing the supply as the plants advance in growth ; give air at 
every favourable time, when the temperature outside is about 32°; the 
sorts that are best suited for early purposes are such as Governor-General, 
Saracen, Una, Wonderful, Carlos, Sanspareil, Admirable, Lord Raglan, 
Lucy, Gem of the West, Review, Viola, Arab, Rose Raglan. Of 
Fancies, Attraction, Evening Star, Delicatum, Cloth of Silver, Madame 
Sontag, Madame Rougiere, Celestial, Cassandra, Emperor, Omar Pasha, 
King, Prima Donna, Queen of Roses, Lady of the Lake. Those in¬ 
tended for late flowering should be kept at a moderately low but safe 
temperature ; it should never get below 40°. The young Stock and 
seedlings may be kept warmer; they will also require more water as 
they begin to grow ; fine plants cannot possibly be grown if they are 
over crowded ; therefore, give as much room as can be spared, so that 
they may have a fair chance of producing fine bloom. 
Pinery. —Plants that fruit during the summer must be now 
attended to, so that they receive no check; they should have a nice 
steady bottom heat; they should be carefully attended to in watering, 
and they should have a temperature of about 65° at night. Keep the 
general stock at a nice steady temperature, so that they do not become 
drawn. 
Pleasure Ground. —Sweep and roll lawns in open weather. Push 
forward alterations. 
Strawberry-forcing. —Give all the air possible to plants in flower, 
and keep them as near the glass as possible. Water when necessary. 
Introduce fresh batches of plants into heat for successional crops. 
Vinery. —See that there is always a regular steady heat in the 
covering on the outside borders. Attend regularly to the stopping and 
tying-down of shoots. Keep a night temperature of about 65° for 
Hamburghs. Muscats should be kept five or six degrees higher. 
