THE FLORIST. 221 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR AUGUST. 



Auriculas. — If repotted this month, it should be but a partial shift, 

 by reducing the ball of earth a little ; for the less the fibres are 

 broken or disturbed at this late season, the stronger the plants 

 will flower in the following spring. Young plants may be im- 

 proved by shifting them into larger- sized pots without breaking 

 the ball : where this is necessary, it should be attended to. The 

 whole stock should be gone over this month. Loosen the sur- 

 face of the soil, and add a little fresh compost : this will greatly 

 invigorate them. Give a more liberal supply of water ; they 

 have now commenced the autumn growth, and require more 

 moisture. 



Peckham. J. T. Neville. 



Calceolarias. — Cut down all plants as the flowers fade, and re-pot 

 into a larger size ; place them in a shady situation ; protect from 

 heavy rains, but expose to the cool night-air and dew ; take off 

 shoots as you can get them, and prick them out round the edge 

 of the pots, which should be plunged in gentle bottom heat, 

 shaded from the sun. Smoke, if attacked with aphides ; and 

 watch carefully that decayed leaves do not cause the cuttings to 

 fog off. 



Sudbury, Derbyshire. W. H. Holmes. 



Carnations and Picotees. — All the shoots too high up the plant 

 for pegging down having been piped about the middle of June, 

 proceed to layer the general stock ; use light sandy soil, and 

 peg them securely after making a clean incision at about the 

 third joint ; then place them a little in the shade for a few days. 

 Those about to be layered should be made rather moist, as the 

 water they will receive for some time after will be through a 

 fine-rosed watering-pot. To ensure seed from any fine variety, 

 place small bell-glasses to protect the flowers from wet, admitting 

 all the air possible. Transplant pipings when struck, to make 

 good growth before potting up in autumn. The heat during 

 July has brought them into bloom so suddenly, that in many 

 places they have not been large. This has not been the case 

 here : a finer bloom we never had. C. Turner. 



Cinerarias. — Sow seed for a general crop (for directions for 

 sowing, see last month's Number) ; take off suckers from old 

 stools for the same purpose. Seedlings sown and pricked offlast 

 month should now be put singly into small pots, and shaded 

 from bright sunshine. Keep the lights off on all favourable op- 

 portunities, and constantly at night, unless there is danger of a 

 storm. A. Kendall. 



Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Stoke Newington. 



