First Week

GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY.



Frequent attention is now necessary in the giving and taking away of

air as the alternations of bright sunshine and clouds occur, and also to

temper cold winds by the admission of air on the south side. If

severe weather has been now experienced, and extra fire heat used in

consequence, many plants that may appear all right may, nevertheless, be

very dry, and if they are not examined, and when very dry, well soaked

with water, they will soon show unmistakeable signs of approaching

death.



Azaleas (Indian).--Young plants that have commenced their growth to be

repotted. Shift Achimenes, Begonias, Gesneras, &c., and keep them in a

warm, moist situation.



Bulbs.--Pot Cape and other bulbs in a compost of loam, leaf mould,

with a good sprinkling of sand, as soon as they begin to make growth in

foliage.



Heaths.--Continue to shift as they may require, using sandy heath-soil

full of fibres, with an abundance of drainage. Be sure that the ball

is thoroughly moist before shifting; for if perfectly dry when that

operation is performed the waterings afterwards given will pass freely

through the fresh soil without penetrating the old ball. Give them all

the air possible, avoiding north or north-east winds.



Potting must be in progress, and include a good proportion of the

occupants of these houses.





STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE.



Push Allamandas, Clerodendrons, Stephanotises, &c., forward as briskly

as possible; but be in no hurry to train them, as freedom in growth is

advantageous to a certain extent. Use all means to check the increase of

insects.



Orchids.--The general collection to be favoured with a good steaming

every clear morning for about half an hour: this to be done by

sprinkling the flues or pipes when warm. Plants in a growing state to

be slightly shaded, to prevent flagging from too copious a perspiration

during a sudden mid-day bright sunshine. Orchids are generally increased

by passing a sharp knife between the pseudo-bulbs (taking care to leave

at least two or three undisturbed next the growing shoots) so as to

sever one or more of the dormant bulbs from the parent plant, which

should remain until it shows signs of growth, when it may be taken off

and potted.





FORCING-HOUSES.



Cherries.--The syringe to be used freely except when in bloom, plenty of

air to be given, and the green fly kept down; shutting up with a little

extra solar heat in the afternoons of bright days.



Figs.--Abundance of syringing and good waterings with liquid manure

may now be given them. Sudden changes in their treatment will cause

the fruit to drop, all the shoots when six or eight inches long to be

stopped to encourage the formation of a second crop.



Melons.--Use strongish maiden loam by itself to grow them. See to the

linings, attend well to setting, and maintain an airy and dry atmosphere

when in blossom. Keep the shoots at all times thin.



Peaches.--Frequent attention to be given in arranging the young shoots,

disbudding and thinning. A knowledge of the state of the border is

necessary, whether retentive or porous, that no serious errors may be

made by withholding a sufficient supply of water, or by giving too much.

The temperature of the early house to be from 55 deg. to 60 deg. by

night, ranging from 75 deg. to 80 deg. by sun heat, and allowing 65 deg.

by artificial heat, on dull days.



Pines.--A day temperature of 75 deg. to 80 deg. to be maintained during

the progress of the fruit to maturity, accompanied by atmospheric

moisture. Succession plants to be supplied with a steady moist heat, and

to be carefully sustained after potting, to induce a healthy action of

the roots. Shading is sometimes necessary during bright sunshine.



Vines.--As the lower parts of the stems are generally close to the

heating apparatus, it is advisable to bind them up with moss or

haybands, neatly clipped, as far as the parching heat extends. The moss

or haybands being damped morning and evening with the syringe, will keep

the bark and stems in a healthy state, and will frequently induce a mass

of roots to be produced there. That by watering occasionally with liquid

manure will contribute to sustain the vigour of the trees.