128 THE FLORIST. 



Peaches towards the end of the month. Plant young and healthy 

 trees where others have decayed, and when doing so remove the old soil, 

 giving additions of fresh turty loam. 



Fuchsias. — See last number. 



Greenhouse. — Close early and keep down fire heat as far as convenient. 

 See that all things are strictly clean, neatly trained, and attended to 

 with water. If the collection is miscellaneous, let the attention be more 

 varied, withholding great supplies of water from unhealthy or weak 

 specimens, and vice versa. Keep down insects while the season is 

 early. 



Hollyhocks. — These may still be increased by taking cuttings from 

 the old shoots ; by the use of a little moist heat, plants are produced 

 in less time than at any other season. But to bloom well, they must 

 not be allowed to stand still — repotting immediately they are struck 

 into good and rich soil is necessary, that a strong plant may be formed 

 before planting out, when a fine spike in September will be the result. 

 The ground for the most forward plants should be prepared ; strong 

 seedlings may be planted out. 



Roses. — Finish pruning, unless in the case of Teas and other 

 delicate varieties, which have been so severely injured by the frost ; 

 it will perhaps be best to allow them to remain, as many which appear 

 dead may break at the collar, i. e., the base of the bud. Plants in pots 

 will require much attention to keep down insects. Where, in the earlier 

 kinds, blooms are showing, Hquid manure should be given somewhat 

 freely, and until the blossoms are expanding syringe every morning. 



Pansies. — To produce large blooms the small shoots should be cut 

 away from the centre of the plant, as well as the side shoots of the 

 principal branches. These should be put in as cuttings, which will 

 bloom in the summer and autumn. Seedlings wintered in pans should 

 now be planted out, and autumn seed sown. Plants grown in pots for 

 exhibition will require considerable care and attention. Grow them 

 hardy without too much exposure. 



Pelargoniums. — Owing to the dulness of the weather, we cannot 

 expect these to be so forward as they otherwise would have been, had 

 the weather been clear and bright. Where they are required to be got 

 into flower early, the houses should be shut up early in the afternoon, 

 and a fire put on about the same ; and in the evening, when the flues 

 get warm, if they are syringed, the steam will moisten the air, and 

 greatly assist the plants. They should have plenty of room, the 

 branches be kept well tied out, and the watering well attended to, so as 

 to keep the roots moist. While the weather is bright a little manure 

 will be beneficial. Fumigation should also be well attended to. 



Pinks. — Top dress with good rotten manure, as soon as the beds are 

 sufficiently dry for the surface to be stirred. The sparrows will attack 

 these as well as the Carnations, if not protected in some manner. 



Tulips. — Protect these with canvass or mat, covering during snow, 

 hail, or severe frost. On other occasions the more open and hardy 

 they are grown the better. Hail is very destructive to the foliage, and 

 should be particularly guarded against. 



