THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 317 



Stove. —All except the winter-flowering plants will have com- 

 pleted their growth, and, therefore, require less heat and moisture 

 than hitherto. Euphorbias, Thyrsacanthus, Poinsettias, flowering 

 Begonias, Luculias, and Gesneras, must have every encouragement 

 to enable them to complete their growth quickly. The temperature 

 of the orchid-house must also be considerably reduced, and Cattleyas 

 and Dendrobes have very little water. 



Forcing. — Pines swelling their fruit require plenty of moisture, 

 and a close warm corner ; but those just ripening require a light 

 open position, with plenty of air to develope the flavour. There will 

 be some difficulty in complying with the requirements of both in 

 the same house ; but much may be done by judicious arrangement. 

 Grapes that are to hang for any length of time must be kept dry 

 and cool, therefore all plants underneath must be removed, and a 

 little fire-heat used in damp weather. The house must not, how- 

 ever, be overheated, or the berries will shrivel. Open the ventilators 

 aa wide as possible, in peach and orchard-houses, at all times, unless 

 they are used for protecting bedding and other plants ; in that case, 

 take advantage of every favourable opportunity for air-giving. See 

 to inside borders, and water if necessary. Of course the soil must 

 not be kept so wet as when the trees are in full growth ; but if 

 allowed to get dust-dry, the buds will drop off wholesale directly 

 •the trees begin tc start into growth in the spring. Strawberries 

 intended for forcing must be protected from the heavy rains. A 

 cold frame or orchard-house is the best place for them after the end 

 of the month. Laying the pots on their sides, one above the other, 

 so as to form a ridge, is also a capital plau for dealing with them 

 when house or frame room is scarce. 



Pits and Frames. — Give plenty of air to bedding stuff, and 

 pot up geraniums struck in the open border, before they get too 

 firmly established, or be caught by the frost. They can be potted 

 either singly, or three in each three-inch pot. The last-mentioned 

 ;plan is the best, because when they are potted off singly they start 

 .away, and grow vigorously up to the time of their being turned out 

 into their summer quarters. Auriculas and Pansies must have plenty 

 of air, and careful watering, in fine open weather draw the lights off 

 entirely, but on no account must the stock be exposed to rains. 

 Keep a sharp look-out for mildew and green-fly, and dust with 

 sulphur for the former, and fumigate for the latter. 



Gleichenia Cultube. — The splendid ferns of this magnificent family 

 require careful management when young, and it is desirable to give them as much 

 warmth as they will bear without becoming rusty. The soil should be good turfy 

 peat in a rather lumpy state, with quite a fourth part of silver sand and finely-broken 

 charcoal added. The drainage of the pots sbould be perfect and the plants should 

 always be grown in as small-sized pots as possible, overpotting being carefully 

 avoided. Several of the new species thrive in the greenhouse if taken care of, but 

 such as G. dichotoma, G. furcata, and G. pubescens require the stove. 



