THE FLORIST. 107 



of them are they here, that a boy is kept expressly to scare them 

 away, the usual remedies being unavailing. If the plants are put 

 out in an exposed situation, the tall-growing kinds, such as Flora's 

 Garland, R. F., should be secured with small sticks. Sow seed 

 in gentle heat ; let the soil be fine ; and water sparingly when the 

 plants are first appearing. 



Royal Nursery, Slough. C. Turner. 



Cinerarias should now have plenty of air by night as well as by 

 day, when it can be safely given them ; shade from brilliant sun- 

 shine, for they love the shade, particularly when in flower ; give 

 sufficiency of water ; beware of letting them droop for want of it, 

 for so sure as they do, so surely will aphides attack them ; but 

 do not go to the opposite extreme, or they will turn sickly, and 

 die of a dropsy. To those who intend to grow seedlings, I would 

 say, select the very best parents that can be procured. Let form 

 be the first consideration, habit of growth the second, and colour 

 the third : unless these points are attended to, it will be in vain 

 to expect a first-class flower; no, not one in ten thousand. How 

 often have my expectations been disappointed from seed most 

 carefully saved ! how, then, can any one expect success where no 

 care at all has been bestowed in the matter ? In the next Num- 

 ber I will endeavour to point out what really constitutes a good 

 Cineraria. A. Kendall. 



Queen Elizabeth! 's Walk, Stoke Newington. 



Dahlias. — Propagating these will now be the business of the day. 

 Put in cuttings, re-pot as soon as they are struck, and harden off 

 as soon as they are sufficiently started in growth. Never allow 

 them to stand in cold frames in very small pots, otherwise they 

 soon become stunted, useless plants. The roots will generally 

 part, and make from three to six strong plants, after they have 

 done their work in producing cuttings. Sow seed without delay, 

 in dung beds strongly heated. If the bed is a proper one, the 

 young plants will make their appearance in five or six days. 

 Transplant as soon as the plants are in rough leaf. Pieces of 

 ground, or beds, intended for Dahlias, should be turned and 

 broken fine with the spade ; otherwise, if the spring be dry, and 

 the soil heavy, the operation will be troublesome to perform, if it 

 be left till planting-time. 



Royal Nursenj, Slough. C. Turner. 



Epacrises. — As each plant goes out of bloom, cut it back hard, leav- 

 ing a necessary quantity of spurs to break from, that a compact and 

 fine head of bloom maybe obtained another year; give the annual 

 shift, which may be a more liberal one than is desirable for a Heath, 

 say from a 6 to a 9-inch pot, and in the same proportion for 

 larger or smaller plants ; tie out the main branches as much as 

 may be necessary to admit light and air into the centre, for the 

 purpose of inducing and encouraging a strong break, which will 



