64 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



S. K. — The chimney probably requires lengthening ; a higher chimney fitted 

 with a "mushroom" top would most likely prevent the down draught putting out 

 the gas. 



Mrs. S. P., Pembroke, is informed that the plant is Acacia pubescens, and can 

 be procured at all the leading nurseries. The Americans cook the dry maize in a 

 wire cage placed over a clear fire. The cage is similar in shape to an ordinary fire- 

 shovel, but rather deeper. We cannot say whether the cage can be obtained in 

 this country or not. 



Name of Plant. — A Subscriber. — We cannot undertake to name plants from 

 leaves only. 



Cacti Culture. — Amateur. — See the Floral World for October, 1869. The 

 other plants mentioned should be pruned slightly to prevent them becoming unsightly. 

 The first series can still be had. 



Waltonian Case. — R. S. — Possibly the cuttings perished through improper 

 management. One lamp ought to be quite sufficient. Geranium cuttings ought not 

 to be struck in a closed case. Try the case again towards the end of the month. 

 Joyce's Stove is the one we should recommend for your purpose. 



J. F. — The high priced case is worth the extra cost. It is very simple and 

 thoroughly effective. The weekly cost of working would not be much. Both are 

 good cases. 



A Neiv Subscriber. — The plants should be repotted annually in the autumn. 

 Tou cannot grow potatoes in a warm, dark cellar, but you may seakale and rhubarb. 



Frozen Plants. — A Lady Gardener is informed that it is quite too late now to 

 do anything for the plants that were frozen. Should she be caught again, and 

 the frost gets in, she must put mats over the glass, or adopt some other means to 

 darken the house, and keep the temperature as near 32° as possible for at least 

 a day, and then let it rise veiy gradually. But we cannot recommend syringing 

 frozen plants with cold water, having seen it followed by the death of valuable 

 plants that probably would have survived if thawed gently, and in the dark. 

 Such things as hyacinths and tulips do not take much harm from a few degrees 

 of frost. 



Poinsettia pulcherrima. — Ignoramus. — This beautiful shrub is easily grown 

 if it can have stove heat, but in a cool house cemes to no good. The soil 

 should consist of turfy loam, peat, leaf-mould, dung rotted to powder, and sharp 

 sand, equal parts. If the cuttings are struck too early, the plants are apt to 

 grow leggy, but if too late, they may not bloom as early as required, and they 

 are usually required at Christmas. It is a good plan to keep a few old plants 

 to cut from at Christmas, as the green leaves and scarlet bracts are of great 

 value in dressing vases, etc., etc. To make nice young plants, take cuttings in 

 March, and dib them into pans filled with sand, and place on a heat of 70°. 

 Keep them rather dryer than cuttings are usually kept when in heat, but do 

 not let them flag. When rooted, pot them in small pots, and put on the tank 

 or tan bed again. Shift as required. Strike a few more in May, July, and 

 August. Summer temperature 65° to 90 3 ; winter temperature 49° to 50 D , and 

 the plants then to be rather dry. 



Salting Asparagus Beds.— J". Tl r . — Asparagus may be poisoned by the exces- 

 sive use of salt, as any other plant may, yet it will bear salting to a great extent 

 without injury ; and within a certain mark, salt is highly beneficial. The best 

 mode of using salt is to sprinkle the surface of the bed every fortnight, merely 

 applying sufficient to make a perceptibly white coating, commencing in the last 

 week of March, and continuing the applications till the last week in July. If alter- 

 nately with the saltings liquid manure can be applied, the growth will be much 

 more satisfactory ; indeed, it is by combining the two agents that the " giant " 

 asparagus is grown for Covent Garden Market. Some cultivators apply a heavy 

 coating of salt in March, and give no more till the stems are cut down in autumn ; 

 but this is an objectionable plan, because the plant has more salt than it can appro- 

 priate in the early period of growth, and scarcely any when it in full vigour, and 

 engaged in forming the embryo buds that are to furnish shoots for the next season. 

 Where it is not possible to apply a thin sprinkling of salt every alternate week 

 throughout the growing season, the system of heavy dressing in the month of 

 March must be adopted, and the quantity applied should be at the rate of twenty- 

 four bushels per acre. 



