250 THE FLORIST, 



THE LADIES' PAGE. 



" The western Sun withdraws the shorten 'd day. 

 And humid Evening, gliding o'er the sky. 

 In her chill progress, to the ground condensed 

 The vapours throws." Thomson. 



Those chilly humid evenings, which we may now expect, are fre- 

 quently the forerunners of sharp morning frosts, which, if not guarded 

 against, will totally destroy the beauty of our flowers, and perhaps 

 even seriously injure some of the plants intended to be preserved 

 through the winter, such as Heliotropes and Scarlet Geraniums, for 

 bedding again next spring. Often, in the southern counties espe- 

 cially, a single frost, stealing upon us like a thief in the night, comes 

 and cuts off every unprotected flower ; and then, after the mischief 

 has been done, we have uninterrupted fine weather for a consider- 

 able time. Therefore, those who are anxious to prolong the floral 

 season to as late a period as possible must watch the weather nar- 

 rowly ; and when appearances indicate such an unpleasant visitation, 

 a few of the most valued beds, at any rate, might be saved by spread- 

 ing common garden- mats over them. All plants which are meant to 

 be wintered in pots for use in another season ought to be taken up 

 as soon as they cease to be attractive. To economise space, use 

 small pots for these plants, and reduce their heads considerably, — in 

 fact, all the branches of Geraniums might be shortened to one or two 

 joints ; then place them at once in a pit or a greenhouse, and give 

 them very Httle water during the winter. 



Verbenas, Petunias, and all plants of similar straggling habit, are 

 not worth the trouble of taking up : these should be propagated by 

 cuttings, which must be put in immediately, if not already done, and 

 if they can be assisted by a little artificial warmth at this dull season 

 of the year, they will emit roots much more readily. Those who 

 have had no experience in striking cuttings will find sufficient direc- 

 tions to enable them to perform this process at page 40 of this Volume. 

 As the beds are cleared, such of them as it is proposed to fill 

 with Hyacinths, Anemones, Pansies, or other spring-flowering plants, 

 should be moderately manured and deeply dug preparatory to plant- 

 ino", and the earlier these operations are completed, the better will 

 the plants establish themselves. Or if annuals were sown in the 

 beginning of last month for this purpose, the plants should be trans- 

 ferred to the flower-garden as soon as the beds can be made ready 

 to receive them. When, however, such provision has not been made, 

 seeds of annuals might be sprinkled thinly over the beds and raked 

 in ; and if the winter should be mild, the plants will most likely get 

 strong enough to blossom well in spring. To the list given at p. 41 

 might be added the Virginian Stock (Malcomia maritima), red, and 

 Venus's Navel-wort {Omphalodes linifolici), white, old inhabitants 

 of our gardens, but nevertheless not to be despised. There is also 

 a dark-blue variety, of Venus's Looking-glass (the botanical name of 

 which has been changed from Campanula to Prismatocarpus speculum), 



