92 THK FLORIST. 



OUR MONTHLY REMEMBRANCER. 



Auriculas. Protect them from storms, and cover from night- frosts ; 

 but take every opjDortunity of drawing off the lights in the day-time 

 when it can be done with safety. Moisten the bottom of the frames 

 between the pots, and keep up a humid atmosphere, to counteract 

 the effects of parching winds. Water the plants liberally once or 

 twice a week ; use the liquid manure mentioned below for seedlings, 

 and at the same time sprinkle the foliage with it, but avoid touching 

 the blooms : it is best applied in the evening, when the frames are 

 being shut up. Where the plants are grown on a stage, the under 

 part should be well wetted now and then; the saltpetre- water is best 

 for this purpose. A temporary stage, consisting of two rails the 

 width of the hand-glasses, and supported on short pegs, should be 

 erected in a north aspect, for the hand-lights to stand upon over the 

 plants. As soon as the first pip begins to expand, place the plant 

 under the hand-glass, that it may be secure from injury : be sure 

 the glasses are sound on the top, and free from drip, for the blooms 

 dislike wet. The flowers expand most freely when in a humid and 

 still atmosphere ; notwithstanding, air must be admitted, but not to 

 the extent that will blow the blooms about. Let down the side- 

 boards with which this temporary protection should be provided in 

 calm weather, and close them when boisterous cold winds prevail. 

 Cover up from night-frost, water, &c. as when the plants were in the 

 frames. Select a few healthy plants for seeding ; look to the oflF- 

 sets plunged in the south border, and transplant all that are rooted. 

 About the second or third week shade the glasses on the south side, 

 and let the shading remain till the plants are fit to remove. Trans- 

 plant seedlings. An occasional sprinkling over head with saltpetre- 

 water will be found of service ; it may be used with safety if the 

 proportions given (1 oz. to a gallon) are not exceeded. 



Calceolarias. Fumigate for green-fly, and clean the plants 

 thoroughly with soft water next morning. All plants not shifted 

 into their blooming-pots should be done without delay. 



Carnations and Picotees, whether in pots or the open ground, 

 ought to be in their blooming quarters ; if any are in small pots, 

 shift them into larger ones. The size of the bloom mainly depends 

 on the plants taking good hold of the soil before thej^ spindle for 

 bloom. In an exposed situation, the tall-growing kinds, such as 

 Flora's Garland, should be secured with small sticks. Sow seed in 

 gentle heat ; let the soil be fine, and water sparingly when the plants 

 are first appearing. 



Cinerarias should now have plenty of air by night as well as 

 by day, when it can be safely given them ; shade from brilliant sun- 

 shine, for they love the shade, particularly when in flower ; give suf- 

 ficiency of water. 



Cold Frames. The season when the winter occupants of these 

 structures will be required to take their places in the flower-clumps 



