96 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



shades ; the objects selected were, fruits of the 

 winter cherry, magnolia, holly, elm and oak 

 leaves, and some thistle like heads that looked 

 like a species of teazle. Perhaps our friend, 

 Mr. B., of Reading will oblige us with some 

 short practical hints. 



Dielytra Spectabilis.— Zinnia. — This lovely 

 herbaceous plant is quite hardy, and does well 

 in the open ground. We planted half-a-dozen 

 stools in a border some three years since, and 

 they have so increased that we might make 

 hundreds of strong plants by dividing them. 

 Now is a good time to turn them out of pots, 

 and though they will grow in any kind of garden 

 soil, a light rich loam is the best. If you want 

 them to bloom well this season, turn them out 

 without breaking the ball, but if you want to 

 increaseyour stock, divide the root so as to pre- 

 serve a crown to each division ; plant in deep 

 rich soil and mulch with old dung, and they 

 will grow as freely as peonies. 



Slugs, fyc.—E. R. G. — Your only hope is in a 

 vigilant system of trapping, and if you perse- 

 vere you may get rid of every slug and wire- 

 worm in one season. Put little heaps of 

 brewer's grains about near their haunts, and 

 examine these every morning, and destroy 

 every one you find. Or lay cabbage-leaves 

 under tiles, and every morning take them up, 

 and make away with the spoil. The best traps 



for wire-worm are slice3 of potato, or carrot, 

 buried six inches deep, and a stick put over 

 each, to mark it. These should be taken up 

 once a week, and well examined, and the worms 

 will be found feasting on the pulp. 



Thunbergias.— Rose may ensure germination if the 

 seed is good, by sowing in peat, and plunging in 

 a rather moist strong hot bed, or if in a Walto- 

 niau case, a temperature of 80° may be given 

 till the seeds come up ; then to be reduced a 

 little. The stove is the proper place for Thun- 

 bergias, the soil, leaf-mould, peat, and a little 

 old dung, and a plentiful admixture of crocks 

 and old mortar. Summer temperature 65° to 

 85°, and the plants to be destroyed in Autumn, 

 to save the trouble of keeping them, or even of 

 preserving cuttings No young hand can expect 

 to keep Thunbergias over winter. 



Cacti.-/. D.—l. Probably a Cereus, 2. An 

 Opuntia, 3. Eohiuocactus, 4. Epiphillum. 

 This is mere guess work of course, and until 

 they flower it will be impossible to name them 

 accurately. 



Vine Culture. — Hoare's first treatise. "Lind- 

 ley's Guide to the Orchard." There's an exel- 

 lent short treatise in the Cottage Gardener's 

 Dictionary, article "Grape Vine." 



Gourds.— Squash.— You Should grow the Mam- 

 moth, the Peturion, and the common Pumpkin. 

 For delicacy of flavour, the Custard marrow. 



METEOROLOGICAL CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 



AVERAGES FOR THE ENSUING MONTH. 

 During sixteen years past, the average temperature of the month of April has been : — Max. 57° ; 

 min., 39°; mean, 463"; so that April is 5 Q warmer than March, S* above February, and 84° above 

 January. During the same period 1.6 inches was the average fall of rain, being little different to the 

 average fall of the three preceding months. The highest temperature observed in the month of April 

 during thirty-one years past, occurred on the 28th, 1840: thermometer, 81°; and the lowest during 

 the same period, on the 24th, 1854 ; thermometer 18S. The sun rises on the first of April at 5h. 38m., 

 and sets at 6h. 31m. in the latitude of London. On the 30th he rises at 4h. 37m., and sets at 7h. 19m. ; 

 the length of day in London on the 15th is 13h. 47m., and on the 30th, 14h. 40m., the length of day is 

 therefore increased 6£ hours. Saturn will be the evening star during the ensuing month. 

 PHASES OF THE MOON FOR APRIL, 1858. 



d Last Quarter, 6th, lh. 42m. p.m. • New Moon, 13th. llh. 15m. p.m. 



J First Quarter, 20th, 2h. 26m. p.m. O Full Moon, 28th, 2h. 56m. a.m. 



MEETINGS AND EXHIBITIONS, APRIL, 1858. 

 Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th, and Friday 16th, Floral Bazaar at the Crystal 

 Palace, for the Exhibition and Sale of Flowers. — Wednesday 21st, and Thursday 

 22nd, Horticultural Society : Grand Spring Meeting at St James's Hall ; 

 Exhibition of Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, Orchids, Pelargoniums, Roses, Fruits, 

 and Miscellaneous Spring Flowers.— Wednesday 28th, Oxford Floral Society's first 

 Exhibition : Hyacinths, Pelargoniums, Camellias, Annuals, Foliaged Plants, and 

 various Florists' Flowers. — Thursday 29th, Royal Horticultural Society of Dublin ; 

 First Spring Meeting, and General Exhibition. 



*#* Secretaries will oblige by forwarding Announcemeni<, Schedule?) <fc.,of forthcoming 



Exhibitions. 



