THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 57 



without the compensation of ice to skate on, or snow deep enough 

 to charm us with its beauty. 



If the weather should continue mild for some time, many garden 

 plants will come into flower. Tor some time past we have been 

 enjoying the delightful odour of the Italian coltsfoot, and we see 

 troops of violets coming in tlie warmer nooks of coppices and shrub- 

 beries. The Christmas rose has flowered bravely, and will now be 

 succeeded by other species of helleborusless beautiful, but notwithout 

 attractions. Indeed, the sombre li. fcetidus presents an elegant 

 appearance as we see it now lifting up its curious inflorescence. The 

 white Arabis, the yellow Eorsythia, the purple Mezereon, the her- 

 baceous Erica, and the very elegant Epimedium will soon show their 

 welcome flowers to proclaim silently, but with power, that "winter 

 is going, and none would call him back." 



The garden-work of February has for its chief object to prepare 

 seed-beds, and to accomplish certain sowings and plantings that, 

 weather permitting, cannot be finished too early. Peas and potatoes 

 should have first consideration, and if any earthwork or tree- 

 planting remains unfinished, nil the strength possible should be 

 brought into requisition to make an end of them quickly and 

 properly. 



Flower Garden. — Any alterations that may be on hand should 

 be completed without delay, for the ordinary routine of garden-work 

 will be quite sufiicient to occupy the hands and head for the next 

 two months. New turf should be laid down as speedibly as possible, 

 to enable it to get rooted before the dry, hot weather is upon 

 us. This is also a good time for turning and making gravel-walks, 

 and for renovating and making new box edgings, as it gives the one 

 time to get consolidated, and the other rooted, before summer. 

 Draw a little soil over the points of any of the bulbs that may be 

 making their appearance above ground, or, better still, cover the 

 beds with a few inches of cocoa-nut refuse. 



Greenhouse. — In frosty weather use just sufiicient fire to keep 

 the frost out, as the employment of a large amount of fire-heat at 

 that time is injurious to nearly all the greenhouse plants. It is 

 wrong to suppose that it makes little diflference how high the 

 temperature is, so long as the frost is kept out. After two or 

 three damp days, light a fire to warm the pipes, to enable the 

 ventilators to be open, without the temperature being materially 

 lowered, and at the same time set the air in motion, and di'ive out 

 the stagnant atmosphere, which soon accumulates without ventilation. 

 A few fuchsias should be started in a genial warmth, to furnish 

 cuttings for growing on for midsummer and autumn flowering. 

 Autumn-struck plants of show and fancy pelargoniums should be 

 potted in five or six-inch pots, without further delay, and they will 

 then make fine plants for conservatory decoration. Camellias should 

 be carefully watered, for, if allowed to get too wet or too dry, they 

 will soon shed their buds. Sudden changes of temperature are 

 equally as injurious ; therefore, any required to flower early should 

 go through two or three temperatures before they are finally landed 

 in the forcing-house. Unless this can be done, they had better be 



February. 



