Thrid Week

GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY.



Proceed as diligently as possible with the repotting of such of the

hardwooded greenhouse plants as require it, so as to start them in good

time to acquire a vigorous growth.



Cacti.--The chief point in managing these plants is to allow them an

alternate period of rest and growth. To be grown in a mixture of lime

rubbish and loam, with a little cowdung, and in well-drained pots.

In summer to be fully exposed to the sun, and well watered; and from

October to March to be kept perfectly dry.



Calceolarias (Herbaceous).--To be shifted into larger pots in a compost

of equal quantities of decayed turf, leaf mould, good sandy peat,

old cowdung, and silver sand, with plenty of drainage and moss on the

crocks. To be kept close for a week, after which air may be freely

given, avoiding currents of cold air.



Heaths.--Every vigorous shoot that is taking the lead to be stopped, to

produce a more uniform and compact plant.



Lilium lancifolium.--To be potted either in a good peat, with a little

silver sand, or in a light sandy loam, using also some silver sand. The

bulb to be placed two or three inches deep from the top of the pot to

allow room for the stem-fibres to penetrate the soil.



Pelargoniums.--The plants potted last month to be stopped back. The

house to be kept rather close for a week or ten days, to assist them to

push out their eyes. Those intended to bloom in May, that have not been

stopped since cutting down, will be putting up their trusses, on sunny

days syringe them lightly, and shut the house up warm, with the sun upon

it, about three or four o'clock in the afternoon.





STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE.



Keep a lively growing temperature here during the day, with a plentiful

supply of moisture. Syringe, and shut up early, with 80 deg. or more,

allowing a fall of 20 deg. during the night. Shake out and repot in

succession the stove plants that have been previously recommended to be

headed back, and encourage a free growth by plunging them, if possible,

in bottom heat. Smaller pots to be used until they have filled them

with roots, they may then receive one bold shift that might probably be

sufficient for the season.





FORCING-HOUSES.



Cherries.--These may now want thinning if too thickly set; but the

operation must be influenced by the energies of the tree and the action

of the roots. Endeavour to keep the atmosphere like fine mild weather

in May. During the period of the stoning of the fruit, give the trees no

water at the roots, as this is generally one of the chief causes of so

much of it falling off at that time.



Figs.--When the fruit is swelling off, the trees to be liberally

supplied with water. The young shoots to be stopped to four or

five eyes, with the exception of those that are required to fill up

vacancies.



Melons.--Continue the thinning, stopping, training, &c., as required.

Set the early crops when in blossom, keeping a dry and lively atmosphere

during that period. Air to be given freely in favourable weather, but

cautiously, with some contrivance to break cold winds. Do not allow a

plant to swell a fruit until sufficiently strong to sustain it.



Peaches.--Be moderate in the application of fire heat to those that

are stoning (they make little or no progress in swelling during the

period)--say 65 deg. by day and 60 deg. by night; but when they commence

their second swell increase the heat moderately. Stop all luxuriant

shoots, and thin out in the second house all clusters of fruit when

about the size of Peas.



Pines.--The fruiting plants will be benefited by a watering with manure

water as soon as the bloom is set. Succession plants, if recently

shifted, to be shaded in the middle of the day if the sun is powerful;

to be kept rather close and dry, except slight sprinklings over the

tops, until they have taken root, when they may be watered freely, and

will generally require no more to be given for a week or ten days.



Vines.--The atmosphere in the early house, where the bunches have been

thinned, to be kept pure by a gradual increase of air and moisture. The

night temperature to be kept up to 65 deg., with an increase of 10 deg.

by day, and even more in bright sunshine. The second house may now be in

bloom, and will require attention in tying the shoots and keeping up the

necessary amount of heat, with less moisture. Where the fruit is set,

give the Vines a good syringing, to wash off the flowers; after which

the leaves and fruit should not be again wetted, but to be supplied with

atmospheric moisture by watering the floor of the house, and sprinkling

the flues or pipes, or from evaporating-troughs or pans. Give plenty of

tepid manure water to the Vines fruiting in pots.