NOVEMHEU. 203 



free. In Picotees, Princess Alice is about tlie worst. The best 

 practice is to grow such singly, instead of in pairs, as is the usual 

 method ; and to place them at a greater distance from each other in 

 the frame or pots. 



Cinerarias. These w'ill now be in rapid growth, and conse- 

 quently they should not receive any sudden check. Occasional 

 frosts may now be expected ; and it would be wise to be prepared 

 with mats, and occasionally with litter, to protect those in pits or 

 frames. Protect them also from cold, blustering winds, which fre- 

 quently occur in November. Bring a few that are throwing up 

 flower-stems, into the greenhouse for early flowering. Give plenty 

 of air ; a cold, damp, conflned atmosphere will cause them to lose all 

 their bottom leaves. Continue shifting those which require it into 

 larger pots. Watch for green-fly and mildew : for the former fumi- 

 gate ; for the latter, dust with flour of sulphur. 



Dahlias should now be taken up and stored away for the winter. 

 The usual places for keeping them are under the greenhouse stage, 

 dry cellars, and tool-houses, where the frost cannot reach them. If 

 the soil at the time of taking up be tolerably dry, the tubers will 

 keep better by having a little left about them. iSee that no water 

 remains in the hollow of the stem, and that the name or number is 

 firmly attached with M'ire. The roots should be gone over occa- 

 sionally, to observe if any are likely to decay ; in which case, if a 

 valuable or scarce variety, it should be placed in heat, and started 

 into growth. Others may require to be spread out, on a fine day, 

 for a few hours, should they be getting damp and mildewed. Atten- 

 tion to these last observations will suffice for the next three months. 



Epacrises and Heaths. Presuming that the plants are neatly 

 arranged according to their respective heights, with plenty of room 

 to admit the free circulation of air between each, nicely cleaned and 

 weeded, all they require for the next three or four months is, to admit 

 air freely on all fitting opportunities, keeping the plants as cool as 

 possible short of freezing; vigilance early to detect symptoms of mil- 

 dew, and prompt application of sulphur, together with a sparing 

 application of the contents of the watering-pot. 



Pansies. If sufficient have been planted out for spring blooming, 

 it will be the safer plan to pot oft' a few lights full for spring plant- 

 ing ; for should the winter be severe, they will be found very useful. 

 If the plants are small, three or four in a pot, planted close to the 

 edge, will answer as well, if not better than singly. Those for bloom- 

 ing in pots will require all the air possible, and not to be crowded in 

 the frame. The same treatment as for the Carnation during winter 

 will answer admirably. Seedlings should now be planted out, and 

 looked over every morning until they are established, firming those 

 in the ground that have been disturbed by worms. Seed may still 

 be procured, but that saved in the spring produces the best flowers. 



Pelargoniums. There is little to do with these plants this month. 

 Water but seldom, and never unless they absolutely require it, which 

 is easilj'' learnt by rapping the pot outside w'ith the knuckle. Clean 

 all the glass thoroughly ; for the more light they get in the dull 



