94 THE FLORIST. 



along, repotting them into 5 or 6 -inch pots, using light, rich soil. 

 Fuchsias, as grown generally, are too thin of shoots, and too tall; 

 close-growing and short-jointed varieties do well as pyramids, grown 

 with a single stem. Coarser growing kinds should be stopped once, 

 tying the laterals when long enough to form a comjoact bush ; grown 

 in this manner, they will be found much more effective. 



Greenhouse. If a mixed collection of plants are grown, remove 

 the soft- wooded kinds to one end of the house, as they will reijuire to 

 be kept a little warmer than hard-wooded sorts. Where separate 

 houses can be afforded each, their management will be more easy. 

 The cultivator must bear in mind that the successful growth of 

 plants depends very much on a good start, and as the generality of 

 greenhouse plants will now be commencing to grow, an abundance 

 of both light and air is necessary in the highest degree to ensure a 

 slow, steady, and progressive action. Not only must plants be kept 

 as near the glass as circumstances permit, but the glass itself — 

 (see our last Number) must be kept clean, and every thing con- 

 nected with the inside of the house in the same state. We said 

 above a slight difference should be made in the management of hard 

 and soft- wooded plants, but with both nothing like hurrying should 

 be attempted; a short-jointed sturdy habit can only be obtained by 

 the means above pointed out combined with ] atience. Many things 

 •will now require repotting, and supposing a supply of peat, loam, and 

 well rotted dried cow or other manure, is at hand, may take place as 

 opportunity offers ; speaking in general terms, fibrous peat and silver- 

 sand are the principal ingredients for hard- wooded plants, using more 

 or less of loam, &c. for freer growing kinds. As some plants require 

 pruning back at this season, allow them to form a new growth before 

 shifting them. Let every attention be paid in potting for thorough 

 drainage, as much of after-success depends on this. Camellias are 

 now in their greatest beauty, and will require rather more water than 

 usual ; manure water occasionally, as plants of the above and Chinese 

 Azaleas go out of bloom, place them in a cool house to recruit their 

 energies, and to enable them to break strong. Mignonette, sow for 

 succession. Tuberoses should now be potted in light rich soil, in 

 32's pots, and when the plants are up a few inches, repot them. Sow 

 Balsam, Cockscombs, and other tender annuals for summer display. 



Hardy Fruit. The pruning and nailing of fruit-trees should now 

 be brought to a close without delay. In our last Number we recom- 

 mended materials to be applied by way of keeping the trees from 

 blooming till as late a period as possible ; this must, however, be 

 removed when the flowers open, as full exposure will then be neces- 

 sary each day, re-covering them by night. The above supposes 

 canvas or netting of some kind is used ; but as the spray of ever- 

 green trees is sometimes employed as a substitute, a portion must be 

 removed so as to admit light and air to the blooms, adding more by 

 night, should the severity of the weather demand it. Break down the 

 ground rough dug among fruit-bushes with the garden-fork, and give 

 as tidy an appearance to the ground as possible. 



Hollyhocks. Harden the plants well this month preparatory to 



