64 THE FLORIST. 



in pots, the soil having been kept dry, as recommended in previous 

 Numbers. Let the plants remain a week at least before watering 

 them after they have been shifted. Give them plenty of air, and keep 

 the lights off as much as possible. Plant out the general stock to- 

 wards the end of the month, choosing a dry time. Plant out seed- 

 lings that have been wintered in pans, 



Pelargoniums. Kepot July plants into blooming pots, now that 

 they have sufficiently broken after being stopped. May plants must 

 be pushed along; a little fire occasionally will be found necessary, 

 with air: by no means keep the house close. If water is required, 

 see that enough is given at a time to penetrate the ball. A " little" 

 water will ruin them, by only wetting the surface, instead of pene- 

 trating to the points of the roots. Young stock should also receive 

 a shift. Fumigate the houses occasionally. Tie out the shoots of all 

 plants that are becoming crowded, and give them all the room that 

 can be afforded. 



Pinks. Stir the surface of the beds as soon as they are suffi- 

 ciently dry, and fill any vacancies occasioned by winter from those 

 in pots. After the severe frost we have experienced, the plants 

 should be firmly pressed into the ground. Pinks recover in a re- 

 markable manner with a little fine weather, therefore should not be 

 destroyed hastily. 



Roses may be planted this month with success. On the first 

 appearance of green-fly on the potted plants, fumigate with tobacco 

 forthwith. The necessary temperature for forcing hatches the eggs 

 of the Rose-maggot, than which a more destructive enemy to early 

 bloom does not exist; the first intimation of their existence is the 

 snuff-like powder (alluded to in a former Calendar) on the points of 

 the pushing shoots; there three or four may be " unkennelled" from 

 amongst the embryo leaves, and they must be closely hunted for, or 

 they will escape detection ; and it should not be forgotten, that one 

 maggot will, before it is full grown, destroy many blossoms in their 

 early stages. 



Stove. Be still ; keep only a moderate temperature, increasing it 

 slowly as the days lengthen and light increases ; if it reaches 60° by 

 the end of the month, enough will be done. Preparations for spring 

 potting should commence by gradually giving more water to plants 

 which have been rested ; when the plants show when they will break, 

 prune them in according to their habit ; they should be left to grow 

 for a short time before disrooting or potting ; after which stimulate 

 the roots by bottom heat and a moist heat. Gloxinias, Gesnerias, 

 Achimenes, and similar plants of herbaceous habits may now be 

 started. 



Tulips. A few only have made their appearance above ground : 

 protect the bed from heavy rains or snow. Frost during February 

 will do them but little harm, unless the bed is in a wet state, and 

 not properly drained. 



