THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 127 



D. congesta, D. indivisa, Areea sapida, ChamcBrops Fortunei, C. huinilis, Cori/pha- 

 australis, Latania borbonica, Rliapis flabelliformu, Seaforthia elepans, Thrinax 

 iunieata, the India-mbbertree, Ficus elasticus, and Yucca aloifolia. These are all of 

 moderate growth, and will require repotting once a year only, and in some instances a 

 shift every second or third year will suffice. They will all grow in a mixture of 

 equal parts turfy loam and peat, and a small quantity of sand. Moderate supplies 

 of water at the root will be required, but they must not be stood in shallow vessels 

 containing water at any season of the year, for if they are so placed they will 

 sissuredly go wrong sooner or later. When the foliage becomes dusty, as will be 

 frequently the case, either wash the leaves with a piece of sponge and clean water, 

 or remore them from the room. Give them a thorough washing with the syringe, 

 or by means of a water-can, to which a coarse rose has been affixed. In the winter 

 the sponging will be the best way of keeping the foliage, and in the summer the 

 syringing will be the most conducive to health, as the watering overhead will 

 freshen them up in a wonderful manner, 



Weluvgtonia oigantea. — Louise. — This magnificent coniferous tree is not 

 very particular as to situation, provided it is not too bleak. It succeeds in almost 

 all kinds of soil, but a deep, well-drained loam is the most suitable. It is prefer- 

 able to plant young trees, because of the skill necessary to transplant those of large 

 size successfully. 



UxnEALTHY Fer.vs. — Mvs. Joy. — The ferns have been kept too wet, and in the 

 case of the Pteris, too cold. The drainage appears to be iraperfeci, and the soil has 

 become sour in consequence. The geraniums have unquestionably suffered from an 

 excess of moisture. 



O. T., Burton-on-Trent. — The stoves mentioned have been found to answer 

 very well indeed for keeping the frost out of small structures. They are also 

 managed without much difficulty. 



Walnut Tree. — A. iZ., Brixton — Your walnut tree is evidently in a starving 

 condition, for it ought by this time to have been eight or ten feet high, and well 

 furflished with wood. The situation should be open, and the soil moderately rich. 

 It is certainly not in a suitable place at present, and we would advise to trans- 

 plant it in an open position in the garden where it will be fully exposed to the sun. 

 This must be done at once, for the season is too far advanced for transplanting 

 operations to admit of much delay. It is not very particular as to the character of 

 the soil. The branches should not be pruned at present. 



C. H. C. — You are quite right in your conjecture as to the identity of the 

 plant. It grows wild on the sea-coast, but generally it is not plentiful. The roots 

 may \>i taken up and cultivated in the garden. 



Shading for Ferxs. — G. M. — Sufficient information is not afforded us, as to 

 what kind of shading you require, whether a permanent blind to remain fixed all 

 the summer, or one to roll up in dull weather ; or something to "Smear the glass 

 with ? If you wish a blind, stout tiffany, the thickest you can get, is preferable. 

 Make the blind the proper size, and stretch tightly over the roof, and fasten with 

 small flat-headed nails. Smearing the glass costs, comparatively speaking, nothing, 

 and is at the same time very little trouble. Mix some fresh lime with sufficient 

 water to make it the consistency of thick whitewash, and add a little clay or yellow 

 loam, and wash the outside of the glass with it exactly the same as you would 

 whitewash an ordinary wall. If you find the shade is not sufficient from the first 

 application, dress it over again. If the lime is fresh the rain will not wash it off, 

 but you can remove it in the autumn with a moderate amount of labour by means 

 of a scrubbing-brush. The other way that we can confidently recommend is simply 

 painting the inside of the glass with a wash made of whiting and size, this is less 

 trouble to wash off in the autumn ; on that account we prefer it for houses that are 

 not sj-ringed or kept moist ; but for houses that are kept moist the syringing will 

 wash some of it off the glass and make the plants dirty. With these considerations, 

 we can with confidence recommend both ways, for they are cheap, easily applied, 

 and answer every purpose for which a permanent shading is required. 



Hyacinths done Flowering. — W. IF. — Hyacinths require liberal treatment 

 after they have done blooming. Make up a bed of light rich soil, turn the balls out 

 of the pots without injury to the roots. Those in glasses carefully take out and 

 plant, spreading the roots out without breaking them about, and encourage them to 

 grow by giving plenty of water when necessary, and mulching the bed with half- 

 April. 



