48 
CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY. 
sweet steady heat of about 70° ; the seed may be sown at inter¬ 
vals of ten days, as it is always best to have plenty of plants, 
lest am accident happen to any in their subsequent stages; while 
the young plants are in progress in the seed bed, other or 
fruiting beds must be prepared, and if the material for them 
is first turned up when the seed is sown, and afterwards 
worked over every four or five days, it will be fit to make into a 
bed about the time the plants are potted, which should be done 
as soon as they have expanded the seed leaves, and will be ready 
for their reception in a week afterwards, during which they 
should have grown two other leaves. The growth of the young 
plants, and the preparation of the bed for their ultimate recep¬ 
tion, must go on simultaneously, that the one may not be waiting 
for the other, and on the ordering of these matters, much of the 
looked for success depends ; for unless cucumbers grow onwards 
without intermission or check of any kind, the result is certain 
disappointment, and it will be better policy to begin afresh than 
continue the nursing of stunted or weak plants. A few days 
before the plants are turned out, the soil for them should be 
placed in the frames so as to become warmed through, and when 
they are transplanted, it should be drawn up into a ridge, so as to 
bring them near the glass ; a little water may be given at the 
time, and the temperature kept as near 75° as possible. About 
the end of the month, the first lot of Melon seed may be sown, 
which will require similar treatment to that recommended for 
cucumbers. In all the erections admit air in proportion to the 
state of the external atmosphere, the desired mean temperature, 
and the condition of the several subjects to be operated on. 
Continue to cover up or introduce to one or other of the erections, 
a sufficiency of rhubarb, sea-cale, or asparagus. 
A slight hot-bed should also be made for early potatoes, and 
when settled to a steady heat of about 60°, the mould may be 
placed in the frame and the sets planted; on the surface, a crop 
of radishes or lettuces may be sown, which will be drawn or 
transplanted before the potatoes require earthing. 
Flowers for forcing, such as roses, lilacs, rhododendrons, 
azaleas, and bulbs, may be taken in succession to the forcing- 
house ; keeping all such plants in frames carefully matted up at 
night, and in bad weather, as a preparatory step to their intended 
treatment. 
