92 THE TLORIST. 



blooming pots; these will succeed those now coming into bloom. 

 Green-fly will give some trouble this month ; fumigate on their 

 first appearance, or the mischief will be done. Seedlings will now 

 be fast coming into bloom; all will help to make the greenhouse 

 gay ; but in selecting those to be saved for another season, com- 

 pare them with the best already out. 



Cold Frames. Look over the stock of bedding-plants, selecting 

 such varieties as will require to be increased ; remove them to a 

 warmer temperature, where they will soon push young shoots, which 

 will strike freely. Plants not required for increased propagation should 

 be hardened off without delay. Keep them well stopped back, to 

 form bushy plants by the time they are required for planting out. 

 See to the coverings nightly, as the weather at this season being un- 

 certain, one night's neglect may possibly cause much unnecessary 

 trouble. Fumigate occasionally, and look well after mildew. An- 

 nuals required for bedding purposes should now be sown. Peas 

 should be sown in pots for turning out in May. 



Conservatory and Show-house. These houses will now, in addi- 

 tion to the ordinary ^tock of plants, be at the height of their beauty, 

 by the addition of forced Ehododendrons, Azaleas, Eoses, and other 

 hardy shrubs, Dutch bulbs, &c. Allow nothing to detract from the 

 interest attaching to select showing plants in the shape of faded or 

 withered blooms, or negligence of any kind ; a moderate tempe- 

 rature, say 48° or 50° by night, increasing 8° or 10° by day. Let 

 the necessary watering be done early in the morning, that the house 

 may become dry and enjoyable by the forenoon. Many of the best 

 white Camellias will get soiled if exposed to damp. Plants growing 

 in the open border water when dry. 



Dahlias. During this month propagating the Dahlia will be at 

 its height, being the best time for the general stock. New or scarce 

 kinds may be continued to be increased for a considerable time later. 

 The reason we prefer plants from cuttings taken in this month is, 

 that being in good time, they do not require forcing to make them 

 forward enough, and are not too early to become stunted. Towards 

 the end of the month start pot-roots in gentle heat, moistening them 

 once a day. As soon as the shoots have pushed from \ to 1-inch, 

 pot them into 4-inch pots, using rich soil ; draining the pots with a 

 little coarse leaf-mould, instead of broken pots. The bulb should be 

 covered with soil, and care should be taken not to fill the pots with 

 earth within an inch or more, as the bulb increases in size so rapidly 

 that it is difficult to water them unless this has been attended to ; the 

 water runs away instead of into the soil. Those that can afford room 

 for potting off their seedlings into single pots when up, may sow 

 their seed this month ; if not, it had better be deferred till April. A 

 strong moist heat is best for getting it up. 



Flower-garden. Digging and dressing flower-beds and borders 

 for summer flowers should be at once proceeded with. Prepare com- 

 post required for bedding plants ; replant and divide all kinds of 

 herbaceous plants as early in the month as possible. Tigridias, 

 Gladiolus, &c., should be planted towards the end of the month. 



