THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 157 



and what shall I do with the young plants that form on the fronds to grow them 

 into nice specimens? I am particularly fond of these elegant -growing plants, but 

 I have not much practical knowledge of growing them. — [Propagating ferns by 

 spores is a very simple aflfair, if a moderate amount of watchfulness and patience is 

 exercised. Take some pans and fill them about half-full of rough pieces of crock, 

 and then take some fibry peat and break it up roughly, and thoroughly incorporate 

 it with an equal proportion of sphagnum moss ; it is not imperatively necessary to 

 use sphagnum, for the peat alone Avill suffice, but it is decidedly advisable to use it, 

 and we presume you wish to be informed of the best way. After the peat and 

 moss are properly prepared, fill the pans about two inches above the level of the 

 rim and make it firm, but leave a rough surface, and then, after the soil is properly 

 moistened, take the fronds of the kinds you wish to propagate and shake them over 

 the pans, and gently draw your hand up the underneath side of the fronds to dis- 

 lodge the spores. After this is done, cover with bell-glasses, and stand the pans in 

 water in a shady part of the stove. The spores are so small that watering over- 

 head washes them out of their places. More especially is this injurious to them 

 after they begin to vegetate. You should bring home whole fronds from your 

 friend's carefully wrapped in paper. It is much better, whenever practicable, to 

 sow the spores direct from the fronds than to make an attempt at cleaning them, 

 like you would the seeds of ordinary flowering plants. As soon as you can see the 

 young plants, give a little air, by tilting the glasses, to prevent their damping off. 

 When the young plants are large enough to handle, prick them off either singly 

 into small pots or several in large ones, where they can remain to strengthen and 

 then be potted singly. Use peat and plenty of sand whilst the plants are young, 

 and afterwards use a proportion of loam according to the kinds. As regards 

 the young plants, take them off with a small piece of the frond adhering, 

 and treat as advised for the seedlings. Secure them in their places by laying a 

 piece of crock on the portion of frond, and keep them close until they are rooted 

 into the soil.] 



Phloxes.— iZ. JI. — "We quite agree with you in respect to the value of these 

 plants, for they are not excelled by any other genus of herbaceous plants ; their 

 culture is exceedingly simple. Pot a few plants only in the spring in some good 

 rich soil, place them in a frame, and as soon as the young shoots are long 

 enough, take them off, and insert in sandy soil, and place the pots in a gentle 

 bottom-heat in the propagating pit. As soon a', rooted pot off, and gradually 

 harden them to bear the exposure to the open air, and plant out early in May. 

 The following selection will suit you : — Admiration, large well-shaped flowers, 

 bright red, with crimson centre ; Baron d'Avesne, dark rosy purple ; Clio, white, 

 with pink eye and large spike; Comus, deep rosy purple; Duchess of Sutherland, 

 pure white flowers of fine form and fragrant ; Gem, blush, dark eye ; Madame 

 Kumph, bright red, shaded with violet, scarlet centre ; Princess of Wales, pure 

 white flowers, large, good form, and fragrant ; Professor Kock, salmon shaded with 

 violet ; Soulouque, purple with crimson centre ; Victor Hugo, carmine shaded with 

 rose, bright crimson centre ; William Elder, deep purple, suffused with rose, large 

 and of splendid form. 



Virginian Stock as a Surfacixq for Hyacinths.— P. W. — ^We are at a loss 

 to understand the cause of your non-success with this plant. There can be no doubt 

 about its being best to be sown where it is to flower, but as that is impracticable in 

 your case, sow the seed thinly on a bed out of doors about the beginning of August, and 

 as soon as the plants are large enough to handle, prick them off into larger beds in 

 rows a foot apart, and three or four inches from plant to plant in the rows, choosing 

 a dull day for the operation. Give these plants a good soaking to settle the soil, and 

 if the weather is dry and bright, shade xmtil they get established. When the 

 summer plants come off in October, plant your Hyacinths in the flower-beds, and 

 then take up Virginian Stocks, with a nice little ball of soil adhering to the roots, 

 and plant between the Hyacinths. This operation must be carefully performed, so 

 as not to break the roots about. Try this, and communicate the result. 



CucuMHEiis IX Pits. — T. J. H. — Your pit is not large enough to grow both 

 Cucumbers and Melons at the same time ; therefore we shall advise you to com- 

 mence with the first-named. You will be able to get plenty of heat by taking out 

 the soil as you propose, but in doing so you must be careful not to go below tlie 

 foundation of the walls and loosen them. As you get your plants out the first week 



