That portion of the stock which are intended for early summer supply next year, should, by the end of this month, have their pots well filled with roots, and be of a stocky well-matured growth; for if kept growing late into the autumn, there is little certainty of getting them to start in time to yield ripe fruit next May and June. There are two evils to be avoided in the case of these plants; one we have just named, and the other is, that of having them pot-bound too early, and subjected to a high temperature too late in autumn, in which case the fruit starts - we are, of course, speaking of Queens - a hardened knot like a thimble, and is worthless. Care must be taken, while inducing a stubby well-matured growth and a pot full of roots, that the plants do not suffer from dryness at root and an arid atmosphere; and though towards the end of the month moisture requires to be decreased, avoid by all means the "dry-ing-off" system. Those intended to start, after making a growth in spring - and which invariably yield the finest fruit - must still be encouraged to grow, and be managed as directed for succession - plants last month.

Smooth Cayennes, and other late varieties now out of bloom and swelling off, must be encouraged with waterings of guano and manure-water, a moist atmosphere, and a high temperature in the afternoon and evening when sun-heat can be stored. Fruit colouring and ripe, see former "Calendar." Suckers from those plants that have fruited up to this time will now be ready to pot: 6 and 7 inch pots are large enough for these. Drain well. Use a turfy loam, with a little bone-dust mixed with it. Pot the suckers firmly, and plunge in a bottom-heat of 85° to 90°. Shade them from the sun during the hottest part of the day for ten or fourteen days, by which time they will be making roots. Syringe them lightly in the afternoon at shut-ting-up time, and when they have made roots about 2 inches long, water them with water at 85°. After this they soon begin to grow freely, and should have an abundant supply of air to keep them stocky - one of the principal points for future success.

Pine Forcing #1

Smooth Cayennes, and other varieties that are most suitable for autumn and winter supply, will now be swelling rapidly, and should have every encouragement and attention. A top-dressing of horse-droppings will assist in stimulating them, and in keeping them uniformly moist at the root. Water them with weak guano-water every time they require watering, and keep the atmosphere moist by frequently sprinkling the paths of the pinery. Shut up early in the afternoon, with sun-heat to a temperature of 90° for a time, allowing it to fall to 75° by 10 o'clock p.m. Syringe them overhead at shutting-up time, when the weather is bright, but avoid the crowns as much as possible with the syringe; for if much moisture is allowed to lodge about them, it causes them to grow large and unsightly. Late Queens that are colouring should have a free circulation of warm dry air about them, and be kept dry at the root. Should more ripen at one time than are required, remove the plants to a cool dry room, where they will keep in good condition for two or three weeks, and so keep up a succession of fruit. Now is a good time to put in a second lot of suckers, from plants which have ripened and are ripening their fruit.

Pot them into 6- and 7-inch pots, according to their sizes; use a turfy loam, mixing in a few half-inch bones, and about a 6-inch potful of fresh soot to a barrowful of soil. Plunge them in a moderate bottom-heat, and keep them at about 70°. If the soil is moist when they are potted, water will not be necessary till they have formed roots an inch long. Dew them lightly overhead every fine day when shut up, and give air more liberally after they have rooted and commenced to grow, and avoid crowding them in the bed. The stock of plants that are intended to start into fruit at the commencement of the year, will now require careful management. Water must be judiciously and sparingly applied, especially if the weather be dull and sunless. No more should be given than is sufficient to keep them from suffering either from aridity of atmosphere or over-dryness of soil. Give a liberal supply of air on fine days. By the end of the month they should be in as complete a state of rest as is possible. 65° will be a night temperature sufficiently high to begin October with, and it should be gradually lowered to this as the nights lengthen and become more cold.

Those plants that are intended to start next spring, as a succession to those just referred to, and that are not now so forward, require to be encouraged to grow more freely for another month at least, and consequently require to be kept more moist, and be shut up with more heat on the afternoons of fine clear days. Avoid as much as possible a forcing-heat on dull days and at night, and take advantage of sun-heat when it can be had. All syringing of growing stock overhead should now cease, as it has a tendency to produce a soft, unfruitful growth.