5G 



CtTLTTTEE OE THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. 



The Neapolitan Violet is a universal 

 favourite, but a difficulty is sometimes 

 complained of in its ctiltivittion. The stxb- 

 joined is my manner of treating it. 



In Mav, after tiie floweriny; season is 

 over, I sift some lijrlit soil oven- tiic p ants, 

 to the depth of two inches : by this means 

 the runners very realily take root. I take 

 care to iceep as much of the foliage of the 

 plant above the surface as possible. In 

 this situation they remain exposed to the 

 ■weather about six vireeks, when 1 take up 

 the old plants, from which a sufficient 

 quantity of the be-t rooted runners are 

 selected to make my flowering plants for 

 the ensuing season. I then choose some 

 shady situ ition, and find they vi'ill do better 

 under the shade of trees, freely exposed on 

 all sides to the air, than on a north border 

 under a wall. I mark out the bed, and 

 remove the soil four inches deep, filling it 

 up to the original level with decayed leaves, 

 over which I put the soil previously taken 

 out. Tue runners are then planted in rows, 

 seven inches distant, and four inches apart 



in the rows, and a good watering given 

 tiiem; whicli will require to be freely sup- 

 plied during the summer, otherwise the bed, 

 being a little elevated, will sonn become dry. 

 Let tliem remiiii in this situation uatil the 

 midille of September, by wliicli time they 

 will have become strong plants. You can 

 then take them up with good balls without 

 any difficulty, as they will then be well 

 rooted in the leaf-mould. Plant them in a 

 frame, in rows nine inches apart, and six 

 inciies in the row, and two inches from the 

 glass. Then well water them, and keep 

 the lights on, and shade if the sun shines 

 out, for about a week; by which time the 

 plants will begin to root again, when they 

 may be freely exposed to the air. By this 

 method I have a profusion of very fine 

 bloom, from Oct- .her until May. All the 

 attention they require in the winter is pro- 

 tection from severe frost, all the air possible 

 being given them in fine weather. The 

 compost to use in the frame is — two parts 

 turfy loam, one part leaf-mould. 



J. Gkeen. 



GAEDEN AND GEEENHOUSE WOEK EOE MAECH. 



Apricots to be disbudded as required, 

 ■which is far preferable to the use of the 

 knife hereafter, and preveBts the waste of 

 strength in the production of wood where 

 not wanted. 



Asparagus in the open ground to have a 

 liberal spring dressing, if not done last 

 month. Tlie manure laid on last autumn 

 to be broken up with the soil, and all the 

 Takings drawn into the alleys, whei'e lettirces 

 may be grown all the summer. 



Bedding Plants to be pushed on to 

 secure stock. Geraniums, verbenas, petu- 

 nias, and calceolarias should be first 

 attended to. Perilla nankinensis, and 

 purole orach sow in pans witlumt heat. 

 Lobelias from seed will require a gentle 

 bottom lieat. Cuphea strigilosa is a 

 capital bedder for front lines; height twelve 

 inches; colour yellow and red. None ol 

 the lierbaieous silvery plants need be put 

 in heat, such as cerastiuin, golden balm, 

 santolina, Stacliys lauata, variegated 

 arabis, etc. 



Calceol.vrias from autumn cuttings to 

 have a shift, and to be put low in the pots, 

 so as to bring tlieir lowest branches close to 

 the rim; this will cause them to throw out 

 roots from the stem, and become more 

 Bturdy, which will be still further pro- 



moted by topping them in time. Any that 

 show signs of being about to flower, to be 

 stopped and shifted to prevent it. The 

 joints containing blooms are longer than 

 those of leaf growth. 



Chrysanthemums to he'sorted over, and 

 the sorts intended for bedding and planting 

 out in groups to be propagated, and as 

 soon as large enough to be put out in 

 four-feet beds. Those for exhibition to be 

 carefully attended to as to shifting, stopping, 

 etc., and if possible give them plenty of 

 room in frames, placing the pots containing 

 the plants on empty pots turned upside 

 down. This will insure them plenty of 

 air when the lights are off, and keep them 

 near the glass, and away irom insects. 



Cucumbers will require as much air as 

 can be given them, and it will be as well 

 to tack two or three thicknesses of wool 

 netting over the ventilators to break the 

 force of cold currents, unless tiie ventilation 

 passes hrstover hot pipes, which is the best 

 mode. Line beds that are declining in 

 heat, as loss of heat m;iy cause the fruit to 

 drop, and tlie plants to become spotted. 



Cauliflowers to have plenty of water, 

 and be got into brisk growth, or they may 

 begin to button. Plant out from the seed- 

 pans, keep those newly planted out closely. 



