First Week

GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY.



Cinerarias.--The plants intended for large specimens must receive their

final shift, and be allowed sufficient space to expand their foliage

without interfering with or injuring each other. The side-shoots to be

tied out.



Epacrises.--As some of them will be preparing to burst into flower, a

little arrangement may be necessary in tying them out to display their

spikes of bloom more advantageously.



Fuchsias.--If wanted early, the plants that were first put to rest

should be selected, and be fresh potted, cutting back the roots,

beginning with a small-sized pot; to be shifted into larger when the

roots have extended to the outside of the ball. Place them in a nice

moist temperature of 50 deg. by day and 40 deg. by night.



Heaths.--To be looked over, and the dead and decaying leaves removed.

The most forward in bud--such as the Vestitas, Vernix, Vasciflora,

Aristata, Beaumontia, and many others, to be tied out, and arranged

for the season.



Pelargoniums.--When large specimens are wanted, tie out the branches at

equal distances, and down as near to the rim of the pot as possible.

Air to be given at all favourable opportunities. Water to be given but

sparingly, and not overhead.





STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE.



Be careful that the night temperature is not raised too high: if kept

at 50 deg. in severe weather no ill consequences will result. The

atmosphere to be kept rather moist, especially if the weather is bright;

and all plants indicating an appearance of starting into bloom to be

removed to the warmest part of the house.



Clerodendrons.--To be shaken out of their pots; their roots reduced and

repotted into small pots in a light sandy loamy compost. Sow seeds, and

also of any hard-wooded stove plants.



Water to be given very cautiously to the Orchids, merely sufficient to

prevent the plants from shrivelling; and to do this effectually it is

necessary to look over them every day. The air of the house to be kept

moist by sprinkling the pathways, floors, tables, &c., daily. If any

plant is found not to have ripened off its bulbs it should be placed in

the warmest part of the house, and the ripening process encouraged. The

Brassias, Cyanoches, Coelogynes, Miltonias, and other such plants, when

they are beginning to grow, to be repotted. The compost to consist of

turfy peat mixed with a portion of charcoal or broken potsherds, and the

pots to be at least half full of very open drainage.





FORCING-HOUSES.



Cherries.--Very gentle excitement to be given by fire or artificial

heat, with kindly humidity, and abundance of air.



Figs.--Although they will bear a higher degree of temperature without

injury than either Cherries or Peaches, it is advisable to begin

cautiously, as it frequently happens that the more haste with fire the

less speed with fruit, and that favourable opportunities of sun and

light must be embraced for making sure progress with them.



Peaches.--Where the trees are coming into bloom it is necessary to be

cautious in the application of humidity, and when they have expanded

their flowers to withhold it altogether for a time. Fire or other

artificial heat to be applied moderately--that is, from 45 deg. by night

to 55 deg. by day, particularly when dark and gloomy weather prevails.

The houses now commencing to force to be kept moderately moist, and in

a sweet healthy state, syringing the trees pretty freely once or twice

a-day with tepid water. Shut up early on sunny days, and sprinkle the

paths, floors, flues, or pipes frequently.



Vines.--When they have all broken, the superfluous buds must be rubbed

off, and the young shoots stopped as soon as they are long enough to

admit the points of the shoots at one bud above the bunch being

broken out. In vineries now commencing to force, adopt the practice of

producing, where it can be applied, a kindly humidity by means of dung

and leaves, or other such fermenting materials. If they are to be broken

principally by fire heat, either by flues or hot-water pipes, copious

syringings must be resorted to with tepid water once or twice a-day.

Fire heat to be applied principally by day, with air at the same time,

and very moderately at night.