FiiBHUAKV. 61 



heat of 8° or 10°. Guard against red spider by syringing. Water a 

 little more freely, but be caietUl not to overdo it. Train young shoots, 

 and stop beyond tlie fruit. Keep the young plants near the glass and 

 in a nice steady bottom heat. Shift into hnger pots as they require it. 



Dahlias. — Many of the new kinds have l^een at work ibr some time, 

 but now is the proper season for the general stoik to be put to work. 

 A large number of [ilants can be made from roots started now, with the 

 advantage ot the plants not being liable to become stunted with being 

 kept a long time before they can be planted out. The shoots taken off 

 in the ordinary manner strike readily in a moist — but not too moist — - 

 heat. They succeed best in pits or frames, the heat being moderate at 

 first, and increased when the cuttings became callused. 



Floit'er Garden. — 'i he Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) is one of 

 the best things we have for winter flowering. In severe weather put 

 some covering over the plants to protect the flowers. Plant Anemones 

 and Ranunculuses. AH alterations intended to be made should be done 

 as soon as possible, so as not to interfere with planting when the sei>son 

 arrives. Prune hardy kinds of Hoses. Attend to Ptock plants ; some 

 of them are very pretty in spring. 



Forcing Hardtf Shrubs. — As soon as you remove any plants coming 

 into bloom, introduce in their places more hardy Azaleas, Kahnias, 

 Rhododendrons, Deutzias, Lilacs, Honeysuckles, Ribes, Daphnes, and 

 Roses ; also, for a variety, a few double-flowering Cherry and double 

 scarlet Thorns. Give them a gentle bottom heat, and syringe freely. 



Forcing Gro'tnd. — Keep up a regular succession of Sea-kale, Aspa- 

 ragus, and Rhubarb. Put a lot of Ash-leaved Kidney Potatoes into 

 pots and introduce them into heat, to bring forward for planting out in 

 frames and pits when ready for them. Sow Mustard and Cress. Sow 

 Kidney Beans. Sow Radishes and Early Horn Carrots, also some 

 Celery in boxes, and place in gentle heat. 



Fritd (Jiurdif). — Finish pruning Gooseberry and Currant bushes as 

 soon as possible. Cut back the tops of Raspberry canes, and dig or fork 

 over the soil. In open weather, prune and nail Peaches, Nectarines, 

 Apricots, Plums, and Cherries. Prune Pears and Apples, and if any 

 of the trees are crowded with spurs, thin them out pretty freely — those 

 that are left will have a better chance, the fruit will be finer, and you 

 will be more likely to have a crop of fiuit another season. Fruit trees 

 of all kinds may still be planted, but the sooner it is done the better ; 

 but before planting, see that the borders are thoroughly drained, for 

 unless they are, it is labour in vain to plant. Make good wide holes, 

 and spread the roots out well in planting — afterwards, mulch them. 



F/tc//sias-. — Late autumn-struck cuttings, or those struck during the 

 winter, make fine pyramidal plants, if pushed along in a little heat from 

 this time, by giving them plenty of root room. If dwarf bushes are 

 required, such as those usually exhibited at Brighton, stopping the 

 young shoots must be resorte 1 to. Old plants may now be shaken out 

 of the old soil, and reootted into pots about one-half the size of those 

 used for blooming the.n in, after which place them in a shady moist 

 situation, using a little heat. The syringe should be drawn over them 

 twice a day, morning and evening. Continue to propagate for late 

 bloom. 



