THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 377 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



JE. F., Darlington. — It is impossible to tell you what to do witli the Begonias 

 without knowing to which class they belong. If they behmg to the ornamental- 

 leavi d section, they must be kept quite dry during the next two months, in a light 

 position, and quite safe from frost. If they belong to the section grown for their 

 flowers, and have tuberous roots, dry them off, and place in a dry store-room where 

 the frost cannot reach them. Those grown for their flowers, which have no tuberous 

 roots, require to be kept rather dry, and in a warm temperature. It will be difficult 

 to keep them safely through the winter in a sitting-room. The operation referred 

 to slmuld be performed some time during the winter season. 



E. J£. T. — The tree onion may be obtained at any 'of the principal seed- 

 houses. Try Messrs. J. Carter and Co., 237 & 238, High Holborn, W.C. 

 The calceolarias in the sitting-room will require to be kept rather moist at 

 the roots, and free from green-fly ; a cold frame, with protection from severe 

 frosts, will be the best place in which to winter calceolarias. The plant received 

 is 11 " fancy" pelargonium. It will require moderate supplies of water, and a place 

 in a light, sunny window. Tlie varieties belonging to the fancy class are too 

 delicate to be grown successfully in windows. They are propagated by striking 

 cuttings of the well-ripened shoots in the autumn. 



Mossy Lawn. — J. L. H , Manchester. — A light dressing of the siftings of lime 

 rubbish applied now will be beneflcial; and in February next dress with guano at 

 the rate of 3| lbs. to the square rod; or with nitrate of soda, at the rate of 1 lb. to 

 the square yard ; the latter should be mixed with fine soil previous to usino-, and 

 then spread regularly over the surface. 



PoLYGALAS. — Amicus. — The greenhouse Polygalas are Cape plants, requiring 

 but little care, and not worth cultivating in quantity. That they may be formed 

 into handsome specimens may be seen at all the summer shows, where P.Dalmaisiana, 

 F. oppositifolia, P. cordifolia, and P. grandiflora, are usually shown in collections 

 of greenhouse plants. Tliey require a soil chiefly consisting of peat, with a little 

 hazelly loam added, and to get up fine specimens, the usual routine must be resorted 

 to, of potting the plants on and stopping the shoots, to cause bushiness, until they 

 are of the size required. The best time to repot will be after they have flowered, 

 and the best time for pjircbasing early in the spring, before they have flowered. 



Cultivation of Cob Nuts and Filbekts. — Young Gardener.— The Kentish 

 system is a good system for gardens, because it keeps the trees down in the form of 

 bushes, but it is generally VL-ry rudely practised. Rooted suckers are planted in 

 the first instance ; these grow two years, and are then cut down, The result of this 

 is a vigorous ehoot, and only one is wanted. This, after a season's growth, is 

 headed back and disbudded, and at a foot from the ground, and by a regular course 

 of pruning, a round compact head is formed. In the early stages of the pruning the 

 future growth is alone considered, and the shoots are cut so as to promote the growth 

 of buds directed outwards, the leader and the central shoots being removed altogether, 

 and the tree formed to a stem not more than a foot high, and an open head not 

 more than five feet high. When they come to bearing condition, great care is 

 taken to preserve a certain number of the young shoots, and the sprigs which come 

 from the part where the shoots of the preceding year were shortened, as on these 

 are produced the female blossoms. As for the male blossoms, a certain number are 

 of course left, but the pruning can never be effectually performed without removing 

 a considerable number of them, and of female blossoms also. But to enable the 

 pruner to proceed with certainty, pruning is always deferred till the spring, when 

 the male blossoms are conspicuous. 



Herbaceous Lobelias. — 2\ iS. — The plants of Lolelia fulgens in the open 

 ground must be taken up and potted in good fuchsia compost, with plenty of 

 drainage. Keep them in a pit or greenhouse all winter. They must never go 

 quite dry. In spring, when tney begin to grow, divide them, and pot afresh in 

 very rich compost, and encourage growth with extra warmth and moisture, and 

 either shift as they require it or turn them out in rich soil in June. In some 

 gardens they live the winter through in the open ground. 



Cineraria maritima and Cehastium iomentosum, — Amateur Gardener. 



Cineraria maritima is a hardy plant, and on elevated positions, where the soil is 

 chalky, it will survive the winter. But in gardens it is generally taken up and 

 potted, with liberal drainage, and may be wintered in a frame or pit. It may be 



December 



