352 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



"Watering Fruit Trees during the Winter. — Anxious Inquirer. — Trees 

 growing under cover, whether in pots or planted in borders, must not be kept dust 

 dry at the roots during the winter. Those planted in outside borders will be able 

 to take care of themselves ; but others in pots, or where the borders are entirely 

 under cover, will require watering two or three times during the winter. The soil 

 must be maintained in a moderately moist condition, for when allowed to become 

 dust dry, the roots become shrivelled, and the flower-buds drop off wholesale in 

 consequence immediately the sap gets into active circulation in tbe spring. It is 

 not desirable that the soil in which pot-trees are planted should be frozen, therefore 

 stand the trees rather close together, and pack a thick layer of dry leaves or hay 

 about the pots. 



Frame tor Wintering Bedding Plants. — W. P. — A frame erected as you 

 propose would answer admirably. The flue ought not to be covered with soil or 

 ashes, or the heat from it will cause a steam to rise when the material with which 

 it is covered is the least damp. Place a layer of coal-ashes in the bottom to stand 

 the pots upon. Sufficient heat to keep out the frost is all that will be required. 



Furnishing a Cold Conservatory during the Winter. — R. SehilbacTc, 

 Dartmouth Park. — You might fill the house with chrysanthemums now, and as 

 they go out of bloom supply their places with a few hardy shrubs, including such 

 things as Yucca fUamentosa variegata, Y. gloriosa, Y. recurva, Jasminum nudi- 

 florum, J. grandiflorum, Laurestinus, Aralia Sieboldi, A. Sieboldi variegata, A. 

 papyrifera, Phormium tenax. The Aucubas are highly ornamental, especially when 

 loaded with their brilliant coral-like berries. The variegated Ligustrums, Euonymus, 

 and others of like character, will also be serviceable. Several winter-flowering 

 Heaths are sufficiently hardy to stand a few degrees of frost without injury, as also 

 are the Camellias. You will find all the information you require in the past volumes 

 of the Floral World, and you will do well to treat yourself to a set. The ferns 

 will grow without a glass, but will make better progress with that protection. "We 

 never recommend dealers, and are, therefore, unable to comply with your request 

 and we have not time to answer correspondents through the post, however anxious 

 we may feel to oblige them. 



Grapes for Cool Vinery. — F. J. B., Tipper Norwood. — If you are afraid to 

 plant the Goldeu Champion, substitute either Buckland Sweetwater or Royal Mus- 

 cadine for it. A few complaints have been made respecting the constitution of the 

 first-named variety, but we believe the weakness to arise solely through the young 

 plants being forced too hard in the propagating-house, as the resources of the firm 

 who sent it out were taxed to the utmost to meet the enormous demand. We have 

 received several favourable accounts, however, of its behaviour, and it has in some 

 places made stout rods twenty feet long during the first season after planting. The 

 Hamburgh, known as theFrankenthal, is the best for cool vineries. 



Floral World Volumes. — H. W., Manchester. — The volumes of the Floral 

 World for 1867 and 1868 are to be had by order of any bookseller, price 7*. 6d. 

 each. 



Wintering Myrtles and Scarlet Geraniums. — A Lady Amateur. — Spe- 

 cimens of these can be wintered safely in a shed or outhouse, provided the frost 

 cannot reach them, although a greenhouse or orchard-house is preferable. The 

 geraniums should be kept quite dry at the roots, but the soil in which the myrtles 

 are growing must be just moist , and no more. 



The Garden Oracle for 1870 is announced for early publication, by Messrs. 

 Groombridge and Sons, 5, Paternoster Row. — The speciality of the forthcoming 

 issue is a new and select list of the choicest dessert fruits, so arranged as to indi- 

 cate the seasons when they severally attain perfection, the mode of culture, and 

 their respective adaptation to large and small gardens, to forcing and high fruit- 

 growing establishments, and the most humble and unpretending amateur's garden. 

 'The descriptions of new plants, new flowers, new fruits, new vegetables, and new 

 horticultural inventions and appliances, are to he as full and accurate as usual, and 

 the greatest care has been taken to render the selection of flowers, fruits, etc., for 

 1870, as perfect as the most critical and cautious amateur could desire. 



