106 THE FLORIST. 



blooms about. Let down the side-boards in calm weather, and 

 close them when boisterous cold winds prevail. Covering up 

 from night frost, watering, &c. must be as punctually attended 

 to as when the plants were in the frames. There are many 

 little requisites wanting when preparing for an exhibition, such 

 as cotton -wool, soft bass, small sticks, &c. for securing the 

 blooms ; provide them in good time, and have the boxes re- 

 painted or washed, as may be necessary. 



Seed Plants. — Select a few healthy plants for seeding ; they 

 may be allowed the benefit of mild rain for a longer period than 

 those in reserve for exhibition, or till the pollen is approaching 

 to ripeness, which may be told by its presenting a granulated 

 appearance ; at which time the plant should be protected from 

 wet, for if the tubes of the flowers are suffered to fill with water, 

 and the pollen becomes saturated, its powers are much deteri- 

 orated, if not totally destroyed. Light dry breezes are beneficial 

 to seeding plants ; they shake the stems, and assist to disperse 

 the pollen. Shade sufficiently to prevent the plants from flagging ; 

 give a free circulation of air, and a liberal supply of moisture. 

 A western aspect is the best situation. 



Offsets. — Look to the offsets plunged in the south border, 

 and transplant all that are rooted. About the second or third 

 week, shade the glasses on the south side with any convenient 

 material, and let the shading remain till the plants are fit to 

 remove. 



Seedlings. — Continue to transplant as often as they touch each 

 other, till they are large enough for separate pots, and keep the 

 soil properly moistened. They grow but slowly. An occasional 

 sprinkling overhead with saltpetre water will be found of great 

 assistance ; it may be used with safety, if the proportions given 

 are not exceeded : see vol. i. p. 102. 



Peckham. J. T. Neville. 



Calceolarias. — Examine the plant well, and see that there is no 

 green-fly about them : this little pest lies so closely sheltered 

 underneath the leaves, that unless you look well into the plants, 

 you will not detect him. Fumigate the moment he appears, and 

 tilt the pots on one side, or prop the leaves up with a few sticks 

 to effect their destruction, and clean them the following morning 

 by syringing them thoroughly with soft water. All plants not 

 shifted into their blooming-pots, should be done without delay. 



Sudbury, Derbyshire. W. H. Holmes. 



Carnations and Picotees, whether in pots or the open ground, 

 ought to be in their blooming quarters ; if any are in small pots, 

 shift them immediately into larger ones. The size of the bloom 

 mainly depends on the plants taking good hold of the soil before 

 they spindle for bloom. Sparrows are very troublesome at this 

 season, and will, in a very short time, spoil many plants : they 

 devour the heart of the plant, if not well looked after. So fond 



