Early autumn potted suckers that are well rooted, and wintering in dry light pits or houses, with bottom-heat supplied by hot-water pipes, will require to be carefully examined at intervals, and watered before they become "dusty" dry. Although it is undesirable to excite these to much growth at present, yet if allowed to become too dry and stunted, there is more likelihood of a good many of them starting prematurely into growth in spring; and this must be guarded against by watering those that require it at intervals. This applies most forcibly to a time of cold weather, when more firing is required to keep up the proper temperature, which should now be at its minimum, the days being generally sunless and short. We have wintered stock now being treated off with the best results at a temperature not exceeding 55° for at least six weeks at the dullest part of the year. If these are becoming crowded, it is much better to sacrifice a Jew plants in order to make room for the rest, than to let them stand too thickly. At this season, when autumn fruit has been mostly cut, more room can generally be given to young stock.

Where early Pines are an object, a number of the earliest and most likely to start should now be subjected to a temperature of 70° at night, with 8° or 10° more when there is a blink of sun by day, the bottom-heat to be kept ranging from 85° to 90°. If these have been wintered so far, as directed in former Calendars, they will be dry at the root, and require to be watered, after being a few days in the temperature named. Keep the atmosphere generally moist, but not to such an extent as will cause condensed moisture - if the roof be flat - to fall into the centre of the plants. The remainder of the next season's fruiting-plants may still be kept rather dry, and at a temperature ranging from 55° to 60° for the present. Continue to supply to those swelling their fruit a rather moist atmosphere, a temperature of 70° in the air and 85° at the root. Examine the individual plants weekly, and water those that require it, so as to keep the soil in a moderately moist condition. Suckers on stools from which the fruit have recently been cut should now be potted, and if plunged in a brisk bottom-heat and temperature of 65°, in a light pit, they will soon root, and make fine plants for shifting as a succession to those potted six or seven weeks ago.

If these are strong, and potted now into 6 and 7 inch well-drained pots, according to their size, using turfy soil, they will grow in these till May, and can then be shifted at once into their fruiting-pots. Where there are what we shall term half-sized plants - that is, plants in 8-inch pots - well rooted, we would have no hesitation in shifting them after the middle of the month into 11-inch pots; push them on, plunged thinly in a light place, with the view of fruiting them in autumn of 1872.

Pine Forcing #1

If ripe Pines are required in May and June, it will now be necessary to set agoing the required number of the earliest Queens that matured their growth early in autumn, and that have been rested, by being kept dry and cool for some time past. Select those that have thick collars, and that have short, sharp - pointed leaves compactly set in their centres, and plunge them in a light place in a bottom-heat of 85° to 90°. In mild weather the atmospheric heat may range to 70°; but when cold, 65° is high enough, for this month at least. When the temperature exceeds 75° with sun by day give a little air. As each row is plunged, remove all soil in which there are no roots from the surface of the pots, and replace it with a firm layer of turfy loam and horse-droppings in equal proportions; and as the soil will be dry, give them a full watering with water coloured with guano, at a temperature of 85°. After this give no more water at the root, than is just necessary to keep them from becoming very dry; for if the plants have any tendency to grow without showing fruit, much water will in crease it. Keep succession fruiting-plants quiet for another month at least; 55° to 60° at night, with a bottom-heat of 75°, is sufficient for these at present.

All low pits that can be covered from dusk till dawn should be covered with mats or frigidomo when the weather is cold and windy. Whenever the day temperature exceeds 65°, give all suckers a little air for a few hours daily. Some of the earliest-potted suckers of last season may require shifting early in February before they become pot-bound. The necessary number of pots for shifting them should be washed, if not new, and soil should be put into some place to warm by the end of this month. Ten or eleven inch pots are sufficiently large for early Queens. Fruit that are swelling off require careful attention at this dull season. Avoid an over-moist atmosphere, or the crowns will grow to an unsightly size: at the same time, sufficient moisture must be given to prevent a parching air. Keep them steadily moist at the root. The night temperature, in mild weather, may rise to 70°; a few degrees less when hard firing is required.