All Vines, Peaches, and Figs in Pots, or Tubs, to be secured from frost
and wet. A fermenting body in a forcing vinery is an excellent plunging
medium for such of these as are wanted very early. Keep up a succession
of Asparagus, French Beans, Rhubarb, Sea-kale, &c., according to the
demand.
Cucumbers.--Thin out the fruit occasionally, more especially if too many
appear at one time. If any plants have been bearing some time, and now
appear nearly exhausted, they may be rallied into vigour again by a
judicious pruning and thinning, and by the application of a top dressing
of leaf mould or other such rich, light soil, and of liquid manure
occasionally.
Peaches.--A moist heat, arising from dung or leaves, is as beneficial to
Peach trees as to Vines before they break, but as it can but rarely be
made use of, in consequence of the difference in the structure of the
interior, moisture must be supplied by other means, such as syringing
and sprinkling the flues, or pipes, when warm. A few trees, in pots, are
useful for early forcing, as they can be easily plunged in a pit or any
other convenient place where a mild regular bottom heat can be supplied.
The trees for this purpose must have been grown and established for some
time in pots.
Pines.--A regular heat, both bottom and atmospheric, to be kept up to
carry the general stock of fruiting plants safely through the winter.
A high and close temperature to be avoided in the management of the
succession plants.
Strawberries.--If ripe fruit is wanted very early, some of the strongest
plants, if treated as advised, should now be selected, and placed in
a pit where they can get a gentle bottom heat, or on the back or front
shelf of a vinery or Peach-house, just started for forcing, to be placed
near the glass with a free admission of air on fine days.
Vines.--It is advisable, when beginning to force, to commence with a low
temperature--say, 55 deg. by day and 50 deg. by night, to be increased
5 deg. more until they break, when it may be raised to 60 deg. at night,
and 65 deg. in the day, or thereabouts, allowing a rise of a few degrees
by sun heat. The Vines to be syringed evening and morning until they
break, and the walls and floor kept damp. If the stems of the Vines
are near the flues, or pipes, wrap moss over that part, and keep it
constantly moist. The Vines in the late houses to be pruned, the loose
bark to be removed, and the scale, if visible, to be banished by an
application of the Gishurst Compound, or by the more ancient composition
of sulphur, soft soap, and tobacco water. Where the fruit is ripe, a
little fire heat will be necessary in frosty weather to prevent the
vapour that adheres to the glass on the inside being frozen, for the
moisture on thawing is apt to drop upon the bunches causing injury to
the bloom, and decay to the berries.