FEBRUARY. 45 



one strong dose. It is usual to syringe the plants after fumigating ; 

 but at this season, unless a bright day occurs, this must be avoided, 

 owing to the encouragement it would give to damp. A pair of 

 strong bellows freely used among the plants will remove the dust 

 which may have lodged upon the leaves, and also the greater portion 

 of the dead insects, and the syringe may be used any morning after- 

 wards, when there is a prospect of getting the damp dispelled during 

 the day. Towards the end of the month preparations should be made 

 for potting off the stock early in March ; for this purpose, sufficient 

 soil of a suitable character should be stored in a dry place ; pots and 

 crocks should also be in readiness. And it may be advisable to en- 

 courage a little growth in the plants previous to potting ; this may 

 be accomplished by giving less air during the day, and shutting 

 up early in the afternoon. Those whose "bedding-out j^jlants" are 

 scanty must make provision for increasing their stock. For this 

 purpose a little heat will be necessary ; and this may be obtained 

 by means of a hot-bed, which may be composed of two parts fresh 

 tree-leaves and one part rank stable-dung. These should be well 

 intermixed and thrown up in a heap to heat, when the bed may be 

 formed of the required dimensions. It must be borne in mind, how- 

 ever, that a bed to retain heat during the changeable weather which 

 we usually experience at this season, must not be less than six feet 

 long and live feet wide, and three feet six inches high in front ; the 

 back should be as much higher than the front as will cause the frame 

 to incline to the south at an angle of from 25° to 30°. A bed of 

 these dimensions will afford a sufficient amount of heat for the pur- 

 pose, particularly if it is thatched all round with two or three inches 

 of straw. This w^ould guard it from piercing winds, and would 

 prove a great saving of trouble and expense, which otherwise might 

 be required in the shape of hnings. As soon as the heat rises, a 

 covering of sifted coal-ashes three inches thick should be jjlaced upon 

 the dung, and pressed closely against the sides of the frame ; this 

 will serve as a medium for plunging in, and also prevent the ingress 

 of rank steam from the dung, &c. The plants from which cuttings 

 are wanted should be encouraged to make wood ; and if the hot-bed 

 is properly managed, it will afford ample heat for tliis ])urpose. 

 When the cuttings are removed, they should be inserted in pots 

 filled with silver- sand or light sandy soil covered with a bell-glass 

 and plunged in the coal-ashes. Nothing will be gained, however, 

 in point of time, by separating the cutting from the parent plants 

 until the w^ood is tolerably matured. Have the pots filled with the 

 soil, &c., and placed in the frame two or three days before they are 

 required ; this will vv'arm the material, and prevent the cuttings 

 from receiving a check, which they would do if they were inserted 

 in cold damp soiL It is presumed that there will be nothing to fear 

 from frost as regards the pro])agating frame, but damp will require 

 to be carefully guarded against. If the temperature inside the frame 

 averages at G0° without sun heat, it will be sufficiently high, and 

 will allow of air being admitted rather freely during sunshine ; but 

 cold currents must be avoided ; and to efi'ect this, give air by raising 

 the sheltered end of the sash, or by hanging a mat over the opening ; 



