_Flower Garden and Greenhouse._--The directions for January will in
the main apply to this month, except that now some of the hardier
annuals may be sown in hotbed or greenhouse, and also the propagation
of plants by cuttings may be done rather better now than in January,
as the greater amount of light gives more vitality to the cutting.
_Fruit Garden._--But little can be done in most of the northern states
as yet, and in sections where there is no frost in the ground it is
likely to be too wet to work; but in many southern states this will be
the best month for planting fruit trees and plants of all kinds,
particularly strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, pear and apple
trees, while grape vines will do, though they will also do well quite
a month later. Continue the pruning. Fruit trees for spring planting
should be ordered, if not already done.
_Grapery._--The graperies started last month at 50 deg. at night may
now be increased to 60 deg., with a correspondingly higher day
temperature. Great care must be taken to syringe the leaves thoroughly
at least once a day, and to deluge the paths with water, so as to
produce a moist atmosphere. Paint the hot-water pipes with sulphur
mixture, as recommended in January.
_Vegetable Garden._--Leaves from the woods, house manure or refuse
hops from breweries may be got together towards the latter part of
this month, and mixed and turned to get "sweetened" preparatory to
forming hotbeds. Cabbage, lettuce and cauliflower seeds, if sown early
this month in hotbed or greenhouse, will make fine plants if
transplanted into hotbed in March. This is preferable to the use of
fall-sown plants. Manure that is to be used for the crop should be
broken up as fine as possible, for the more completely manure of any
kind can be mixed with the soil the better the crop will be, and, of
course, if it is dug or ploughed in in large unbroken lumps it cannot
be properly commingled.