86 THE FLORIST. 



clean, will not want washing off again. For the mildew, dust 

 the under sides of the leaves with sulphur. Those who grow 

 seedling Cinerarias will do well to attend to the following cau- 

 tion. Never let a plant that you take a fancy to perfect its seeds 

 until you have obtained a duplicate : many a fine flower has been 

 lost to the world by so doing ; for Nature's grand effort is to 

 perpetuate its kind by seed, and when this is fully accomplished, 

 it leaves a weakness in the parent that is seldom overcome. 

 Queen Elizabeth's Walk, A. Kendal. 



Stoke Newington, Feb. 17. 



Dahlias. — Cuttings of new varieties, or others much valued, should 

 now be put in in large numbers. There is much less trouble in 

 striking them early in the season, before the sun has great power; 

 yet there is a difficulty attending early propagation, in keeping the 

 plants dwarf, and also in preventing their becoming stunted in 

 the heart — avoid the two extremes. Common border- flowers 

 should be started in a little heat, that the root may be divided, 

 leaving one shoot to each division. 



Nursery, Slough. C. Turner. 



Epacrises. — This tribe is now daily developing its various beau- 

 ties, nor can any thing be more lovely than a well-grown speci- 

 men of hyacinthiflora, candidissima, simata, and many other early 

 spring-blooming varieties, exhibiting to the eye many varied 

 colours of the greatest purity, rendering the greenhouse, at this 

 early season, an object of much interest and loveliness. The 

 only attention necessary during the blooming season is, to see 

 that water is administered when necessary, which will be more 

 frequently required during the usually drying winds of March. 

 The stock plants may be now shifted, stopping all shoots that 

 may be soaring above their fellows ; by attending to this little 

 matter now, the whole of the summer's growth will be usefully 

 developing itself, and all cutting back by and by rendered un- 

 necessary. Admit air freely upon all fitting occasions, preventing 

 the approach, however, of cold, cutting winds. 



Whitehill, Feb. 15. W. H. Story. 



Ericas. — As the spring-blooming varieties are now fast advancing, 

 it will be necessary to look them over ; finally arrange each 

 and every branch, supporting those needing it with thin green- 

 painted sticks, placed as inconspicuously as possible ; remove any 

 dead foliage that might have accumulated, also moss or wild 

 heath, which frequently vegetate during the dark, damp atmo- 

 sphere of winter ; a scrubbing brush and a pail of water may 

 be brought into useful operation to cleanse the outsides of the 

 pots, which not unfrequently, at this season, are covered with a 

 green slimy vegetation, disagreeable to the touch, and offensive 

 to the eye. Give the plants the benefit of all the air free from 

 frost, avoiding side draughts ; an increased supply of water will be 

 needed this month ; do not deprive the plant of the smallest portion 

 of sunshine. The shifting of " stock" may now be proceeded 



