THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 351 



bed should be five feet wide, the half standards to occupy the centre and the 

 dwarfs to be eighteen inches from them, which will place the dwarfs one foot from 

 the outside, which is enough, if they are kept closely pruned. Put the standards 

 two feet apart, and the dwarfs eigliteen inches. If they want more room in 

 a year or two, replant them ; this will be better than planting very fur apart 

 at first. 



WiXTEiiiNG Gera\'iums IN OuTHOUSES. — Amateur Suhscriber. — Many an 

 amateur has no better plice than a shed with top-light in which to winter such 

 things as geraniums, fuchsias, etc., and, somehow, they get througli tlie difficultj'. 

 Suv re frosts will kill such th ngs ; but while frosts last the plants may be buried 

 in darkness for a fortnight at a time, by means of mats, or even a temporary 

 thatch of straw, or turf, to be removed at the first break of the weatlier. The 

 drenching rains of October and November ruin tender jilants more than a slight 

 frost, and, indeed, render them unable to bear a little freezing. If o-ot under cover 

 before the heavy rains set in, protection from severe and long-continued frosts is all 

 that is necessary. Try one of the small charcoal stoves, and burn in it charcoal- 

 dust, with the finest of the powder sifted out. It may be suspended in the centre 

 of the shed, and is a very safe means of keeping frost out. But beware ofmakin"- 

 a dust among the plants. 



Plants for Entkaxce Hall. — Miss F., HerTcsliire. — You have not light enouo-h 

 to make the lobby a permanent home for plants ; and, to keep it gay, it would be 

 better to introduce plants in flower from time to time, removing and replacing 

 with others as soon as their bloom declined. From the present time to Christmas 

 pompone chrysanthemums, scarlet salvias, ericas, and tree carnations, would be 

 best; then, on the turn of the year, camellias, cytisus, primulas, and other 

 spring flowers ; and for the summer whatever pleases your eye most. Have a 

 few potted evergreens, such as Buxus balearica, golden Euonyraus, Azalea amceca 

 and well- furnished camellias, to fill up at any time when flowers are scarce. Pot 

 oflP a few hyacinths and crocuses at once, and also place a few hyacinths in water. 

 Such places as halls and vestibules should be kept gay by succession ; first because 

 sameness would weary the eye ; and secondly, because few plants can be properly 

 grown in such places, though it does them no harm to abide there while in flower. 

 Some of the hardiest palms will be found very useful. 



Enriching Flo WEu Beds. — Kentish Subscriber. — If the exhausted beds have a 

 good bottom, we advise removing the top spit, and replacing it with a mixture of 

 virgin earth from an upland pasture, well chopped up with old chippy cowduno-, 

 and a good proportion of leaf-mould, say, if you can obtain the quantities, equal parts 

 of each of the three ingredients. But, as we know nothing of what the beds now 

 contain, we can hardly advise with safety. If you can get the beds empty this 

 winter, the best way will be to take off the top spit, and fork over the subsoil, so as 

 to let the frost and snow penetrate it, then get a good supply of burnt clay, and 

 hotbed dung, and chop them down together in a ridge, and let them be well 

 frozen, and fill up the beds with tlie mi.xture early iu March, and they will be in 

 admirable condition for planting as soon as thej' have settled. Clippings of hedo-es 

 refuse wood, straw, etc., built up over a hole, and packed round with cakes of old 

 turf, and thyn burnt, make a capital dressing to dig into the old soil if you cannot 

 well get new material to replace the worn-out stuff. If used chiefly for bedding 

 plants, make a compost of leaf-mould, and sandy soil from a common, equal parts, 

 and one-fifth of the whole very old dun^r, would prove a good mixture. BeJdino- 

 plants do not require a rich &oil so much as a new soW. 



Mandevilleas and L Assif loras. — S. F. P. — If you have a conservatory with 

 a boi-der, plant out the Mandevillea at once without breaking the ball. It never does 

 well as a pot plant, but is a fine conservatory or greenhouse climber, where it can 

 have head and root room, and a temperature of 45' to 50' all winter. Passiflora 

 coerulea you may shift into a next-sized pot, and keep in a frame or greenhouse all 

 winter, and next May to be turned out under a south wall, there to remain as a 

 hardy climber — that is to say, if you live anywhere within hearing of the night- 

 ingale. If your house is in a bleak position, use it as a greenhouse climber, in 

 the same way as we advise for the Mandevillea suaveolens. Passiflor.i racemosa 

 must have stove or warm greenhouse treatment, and will do as a pot plant if you 

 shift, as it requires more room j but it is better planted out, with a good space, to 

 run along a rafter. 



Cultivatun of Agaves. — (?. S. WaJcefield. — All the aloes require a compost 

 November, 



