28 THE FLORIST. 



CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH. 



Auriculas. — The Auricula is not a very interesting plant at this 

 season of the yeai-, being almost devoid of foliage. Neither should they 

 be excited to grow before February, when they may be watered more 

 freely — at present they should have very little water. The old foliage 

 will continue gradually to decay, and should be removed as fast as the 

 leaves turn yellow. This should be done with care, not to injure the 

 plant. Give them a slight protection during severe frost. 



Camellias and Azaleas. — CamelUas coming into bloom will be 

 benefited by a watering of liquid manure once or twice a week, and 

 when fires are required they ought to be occasionally syringed. Large 

 Azaleas not intended to flower until May will only require careful 

 attention in watering, and a steady temperature. Young plants will 

 require to be kept a little warmer as they begin to grow. 



Carnations and Picotees. — The cold we have already had, and are 

 still likely to experience, will not injure these plants if they have been 

 kept dry, as recommended in previous numbers. The same treatment 

 may continue during the present month. 



Cinerarias. — These plants will have attained a good size by this 

 time, and must have corresponding room to keep them dwarf, and 

 they will now grow still more rapidly. Green-fly must be looked after 

 and kept down. The Cineraria flourishes best in a pit, which should 

 be heated with hot water, however slightly. The plants should be 

 raised near the glass. Towards the end of the month, tie out the side 

 shoots. This is done in a similar manner to that adopted for the Pe- 

 largonium when young — namely, by placing a strong piece of bass 

 round the pot underneath the rim, to which the outer shoots are tied — 

 by this means a dwarf bush is obtained. 



Cold Frames. — In mild weather give all the air possible, pulling off 

 the light on dry and sunny days. But little, if any, water, will be 

 required. Be always prepared to protect from frost, by coverings of 

 some description, by night. 



Conserratory and Show House. — Keep up a temperature of 45° by 

 night and 55° by day, allowing it to rise a few degrees by sunheat. 

 When the weather admits give a little air, but be careful of cold 

 draughts, as this house ought now to be gay with Indian Azaleas, 

 Camellias, Heaths, Epacrises, Tulips, Narcissus, Hyacinths, AmarylHs, 

 Primulas, and of such stove plants as Epiphyllums, Poinsettias, 

 Aphelandras, Euphorbias, Justicias, Bletias, and such. 



Cucwhbers. — Plants in bearing must be carefully attended to. At 

 this season of the year they should be trained to a trelhs, and as near 

 the liglit as possible, without allowing the foliage to touch the glass. 

 Never allow the plants to carry too many fruit on at one tmie. Keep 

 a bottom heat of from 80 to 90 d'^grees, and see that it neither rises 

 above nor falls much below this point ; much depends on this, for no 

 matter how well treated in other respects, if a steady bottom heat is 

 not regularly maintained, the growth of the plants will be anything but 

 satisfactory. Keep the temperature about 65 degrees by night and 



