THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 



37 



TALLIES TOE EOT PLANTS. 



I SEND you ray method of making labels 

 for pot plants. It seems almost too simple 

 to be worth describing, but as I did not 

 hit upon the plan at once, and I constantly 

 see labels in use which have evidently been 

 produced at a far greater cost of labour, 

 you may think it worth a place in your 

 very useful book. I get a piece of half- 

 inch plank, and saw pieces of two and a 

 half or three inches long off the end ; and 

 then, with a pocket-knife, I slit these 

 pieces into labels of the requisite thick- 

 ness. A very little trimming with the 

 knife forms them into the proper shape 

 for inserting in the pot, and gives them a 

 smooth side for writing on. To prepare 



them for this, I just give them a brush 

 over with white lead, moistened witli a 

 little spirits of turpentine, which affords 

 an excellent surface for writing on with a 

 blacklead pencil. Mr. Hibberd speaks of 

 never using coal ashes where they can get 

 mixed with the soil, in consequence of 

 their injurious qualities. Iu what way 

 | are they injurious ? B. 



[They sometimes contain earthy mat- 

 i ters that deteriorate the soil, and the fine 

 ! cinders amongst them are obnoxious to 

 I the roots and plants. This is Mr. Hib- 

 j herd's reason, but many people use coal 

 ! ashes liberally, and, when finely sifted, 

 ! are least objectionable.] 



- : : c-c-t c< 



THE CHLTUEE OE EEEEUMES. 



The chief places of the growth of per- 

 fumes are the South of France and 

 Piedmont, namely, Montpellier, Grasse, 

 Nimes, Cannes and Nice ; these two last, 

 especially, are the paradise of violets, and 

 furnish a yearly produce of about 13,000 

 lb. of violet blossoms. Nice produces a 

 harvest of 100,000 lb. of orange blossoms, 

 and Cannes as much again, and of a finer 

 odour. 500 lb. of orange blossoms yield 

 about 2 lb. of pure Neroly oil. At Cannes 

 the acacia thrives particularly well, and 

 produces yearly about 9,000 lb. of acacia 

 blossoms. One great perfumery distillery 

 at Cannes uses yearly about 140,000 lb. 

 of orange blossoms, 20,000 lb. of acacia 



blossoms (Acacia Farnesiana) , 140,0001b. 

 of rose leaves, 32,0001b. of jessamine blos- 

 soms, 20,000 lb. of violets, and 8,000 lb. 

 of tuberoses, together with a great many 

 other sweet herbs. The extraction of the 

 etherial oils — the small quantities of which 

 are mixed in the flowers with such large 

 quantities of other vegetable juices that it 

 requires about 600 lb. of rose leaves to 

 win oue ounce of otto of roses — demands a 

 very careful treatment. The French, fa- 

 voured by their climate, are the most 

 active, although not always the most care- 

 ful, preparers of perfume; half the world 

 is furnished by this branch of their in- 

 dustrv. — Athenanm. 



EEMINDEES EOR EEBETJAEY. 



Asparagus and Sea-kale must be 

 started at once for supply next month. 

 Take up four-year old plants of asparagus, 

 and plant in a bed over moderate dung 

 heat. Let the grass grow till there is a 

 plump green top before cutting. 



Auriculas should have one good soak- 

 ing with water soon, and a fair state of 

 -weather must be taken advantage of for it. 

 If it continues frosty, keep them nearly 

 dry, but they are in haste to move, and 

 must be encouraged with caution. 



Azaleas must be kept back, unless 

 there is a large stock, or they will be all 

 in bloom at once, instead of giving a 

 charming succession. Those already in 

 the forcing-house must have plenty of 

 water, and if well loaded with bloom, they 

 should have weak guano-water. 



Calceolarias for show should be stop- 

 ped, and have a liberal shift. Get the 



bedding stock into gi"owth, and propa- 

 gate. 



Camellias are now pushing fast, and 

 must be bloomed in a dry air, and be 

 shaded from mid-day sun. Weak guano- 

 water will help them, but give two water- 

 ings with plain water to every one of ma- 

 nure. 



Cinerarias must be got into shape for 

 blooming, and suckers must be removed 

 from show plants. Give a steady and 

 gentle heat, keep near the glass, and keep 

 the stages clean, to prevent mildew. Give 

 the forward plants weak manure-water. 



Dahlias. — Ground roots should now 

 be starting for cuttings. The losses have 

 been very numerous in some places, and 

 there will be a demand for good sorts in 

 April. Leave pot roots alone till the end 

 of the month, unless they are sorts that 

 are much required for stock. Use no 



