THE FLORIST. 87 



with on mild days, also the late-blooming sorts towards the end 

 of the month. — N.B. A very copious statement upon potting, 

 the best sorts of composts, as well as all other details connected 

 therewith, may be found in No. V. of The Florist, vol. i. 



W. H. Story. 



Fuchsias. — Continue the treatment recommended last month. 

 Seedlings should be potted off singly into 2i-inch pots, shifting as 

 often as the roots make their appearance on the outside of the 

 ball. Keep up, indeed rather increase the temperature recom- 

 mended for last month. Have an eye upon your specimens ; 

 they will frequently need tying out and stopping, or a loose, 

 straggling-looking plant will be the consequence of present 

 neglect. W. H. Story. 



Pansies will now begin to be very interesting. From the mildness 

 of the season, many are coming into bloom, and the early 

 kinds have already produced some fine flowers. Grow those in 

 pots as hardy as possible ; turn them round occasionally ; water 

 sparingly, unless in very growing weather. As soon as suffi- 

 ciently dry, the beds will require top-dressing wit]i rotten manure, 

 previous to which fill up all vacancies, and look well for young 

 slugs, and destroy them before they have commenced their depre- 

 dations, as a small piece eaten out of the bud in a young state 

 will be a great disfigurement in a fully-expanded bloom. Seed- 

 lings wintered in pans should now be planted out, and side- 

 shoots taken and put in as cuttings, if increase is required : there 

 will be little trouble in striking them, if put in early in this month. 

 Nursery, Slough. C. Turner. 



Pelargoniums. — About the second week in the month stop back 

 the plants required for blooming in June. Give air at all oppor- 

 tunities, opening early in the morning, and shutting up early in 

 the afternoon, say three or four o'clock, according to circum- 

 stances, shutting out all cold easterly winds. Draw the syringe 

 over the plants once or twice a week after shutting up. With 

 plenty of sunlight and warmth, the May plants will be fast 

 shewing their trusses. When the plants require water, give them 

 sufficient to moisten the whole ball. J. Dobson. 



Pinks. — Protection must be continued through this month. The 

 easterly winds so prevalent at this season are trying to the con- 

 stitution of the Pink, and will destroy many of the weakly ones 

 if they are left unprotected. Earthing up is a great security 

 against wind. Towards the end of the month the plants will 

 begin to move, as will be seen by the change of green in the 

 hearts ; keep the surface of the soil open, and eradicate weeds as 

 fast as they make their appearance. 



Seed may be sown about the middle of the month, in any 

 light and sweet soil; if composed of a third part leaf- mould, it 

 will be all the better; sift a little rather fine for the surface. 

 By placing the pots or boxes in a western aspect, much trouble 

 in shading will be saved, and the seed will germinate equally 



