128 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



when, if they had gone on well, they were in 12-sized pots, and fine pyramids six 

 feet high, well furnished with branches from the pot upward. The first week in 

 June they were set in a corner where they were sheltered from the sun and wind on 

 the south and west by a nine-foot wall, and from the north and east by a thick 

 shrubbery. Here they remained till the first week in August, when they were set 

 in the greenhouse, with gloxinias, acbimenes, cockscombs, and other thiDgs. In this 

 situation they began to show flower immediately, and before the end of the month 

 they were one mass of bloom, and so remained until the beginning or middle of 

 October, when they were thrown away, as others were coming on for the next 

 season. We attributed their abundant flowering to the partial rest they obtained 

 the two months they were out-of-doors, and the sudden excitement caused by being 

 placed in a large airy greenhouse, under the grateful shade of vines, which par- 

 tially covered the roof. 



Hardy Spring-flowering Plants in the Parterre. — W. 8. B. — Prepare 

 a piece of open ground, rather sandy if possible, and this should be your nursery. 

 On this ground plant out the various subjects, whether raised from seeds or cuttings, 

 clear the beds of the geraniums, verbenas, etc., as soon as they begin to decline in 

 autumn, say early in October, and then transfer, by simple transplanting, the her- 

 baceous plants from the nursery piece to the parterre, and so arrange them that 

 their colours in spring will make a tasteful display. When they have dene bloom- 

 ing, say in the middle of May, take them up and plant them again in the reserve 

 ground, and so on from year to year, taking care occasionally to get up fresh stocks 

 from seeds and cuttings, that the old plants may be destroyed. As for subjects, the 

 best are to be found in such genera as Iberis, Arabis, Alyssum, Cheiranthus, Sapo- 

 naria, Phlox (alpinus section), Myosotis, and Primula. 



Renovating Old Lawn. — A Country Curate. — In sowing grass-seeds to mend 

 an old lawn, the best mode of procedure is to have the bare places dug over and 

 enriched with good rotten manure, and all the stones and lumps raked off pre- 

 paratory to sowing. Then sprinkle the seed pretty thick, and cover with fine 

 earth. It is a good plan, when the job is only a small one, to sift the earth over 

 the seed ; but when there is a large space to be operated on, the workmen have a 

 few good heaps of fine soil, and throw it with the spade. In a majority of cases 

 old lawns may be revived by simply sprinkling with nitrate of soda two or three 

 times in the season. The best proportion in which to apply it is at the rate of 31bs. 

 to one square rod. Lawns that were patchy and sour have with this dressing 

 become soft and springy with the abundance of fibre produced, and the sward 

 acquired a beautiful freshness and closeness of growth. Until we had used this 

 large quantity, and patiently waited for the result, we advised the use of only lib. 

 per square rod ; and that we can say is enough to work wonders, but the dose 

 should be repeated at least twice— say three dressings in all, in April, May, and 

 June. On some lawns there is plenty of grass and no clover, and during very hot 

 dry weather such lawns become burnt and unsightly, whereas clover does not quickly 

 burn. To promote the growth of clover, any of the salts of lime may be used. 

 Even sittings of lime core from the builders will be good as a top-dressing, hut a 

 quicker result may be obtained by the use of superphosphate of lime in the same 

 proportions as we recommend the use of nitrate of soda ; that is, from lib. to 31bs. 

 per square rod, according to the state of things to be remedied. 



Basket Plants. — B. S. IT. — The easiest and most effective basket plants are 

 easily discovered. All the trailing Tropa^olums, and especially those of the Lob- 

 bianum race, are suitable. Campanula garganica makes a beautiful blue fringe on 

 the edge of a basket. Pilogyne suavis and Mikania scandens make elegant green 

 wreaths four or five feet long. Thunbergia alata is peculiar as well as elega n. 

 There is nothing else like it either in style or colour. Then there are the ivy-leaved 

 geraniums, and the pretty variegated geranium called Manglesii, with petunias, 

 verbenas, and Lobelia erinus, all suitable for baskets. 



Heating Small Greenhouse.— IT. F.—A small conical boiler, and pipes of 

 two or three inches diameter, would produce the kind of heat you want. The boiler 

 would have to be outside, and coke would be the proper fuel. The fact is, these 

 small houses cannot be heated satisfactorily ; and when correspondents expect us to 

 settle the matter in a word like magic, they expect an impossibility. Nor can we 

 advise you about the height and pitch of your house. If you wish to grow great 

 plants, have the roof high enough for them ; if little plants, have it high enough 

 for yourself. 



