FEBRUARY. 63 



clean. Look over early- planted Cabbages, Lettuces, Cauliflowers, and 

 supply defects ; those of the latter in frames should be*fresh surfaced ; 

 pick off decayed leaves, and give air at all times ; towards the end of 

 the month get them hardened off for transplanting to warm, shel- 

 tered ground when the weather permits. Sow on a slight bottom- 

 heat, for future transplanting, CauMoAver, Walcheren Broccoli, and 

 Lettuce, as well as Celery for early use. If any spare frames are at 

 hand, fill them with some fermenting material, and plant a crop of 

 early Potatoes, and a' few true short-horn Carrots and early Radishes ; 

 these latter should be got in the open ground the first favourable 

 opportunity, selecting the dryest and warmest spots for them ; cover 

 the ground afterwards with dry litter till the plants are up. Ground 

 should be prepared for Onions and Parsnips towards the end; the 

 time for sowing will much depend on the weather. Onions prefer 

 deep well-enriched soils, and Parsnips loamy deep ones; do not be 

 afraid of digging land too deep, provided the subsoil is tolerable. 

 Peas and Beans must be sown for successional supply. Look over 

 the root stores, and see that seed Potatoes are prevented from grow- 

 ing out, by keeping them thin in a cool temperature. Dress with 

 soot or guano winter Spinach, Parsley, and early Cabbage; and sow 

 a little of each towards the end of the month in a warm place. 



Mixed Greenhouse. Admit air every mild day. Be cautious in 

 applying artificial heat. Close early, with a little sun-heat when you 

 have the chance, to preserve a warm atmosphere. Look over each 

 day for water ; as the sap begins to move, more will be requisite : let 

 it be a degree or two warmer than the house. Give weak manure- 

 water freely now to CamelHas and Azaleas, to enable them to bring 

 out their flowers fine. Leschenaultias, Crowea Saligna, and Boronias 

 should have the warmest end of the house, away from draughts; 

 light, however, is necessary. Kalosanthes and other succulent 

 plants should occupy the dryest part of the house : water only when 

 dry. Train Tropceolums as the shoots advance. Kennedyas, Hoveas, 

 Pimeleas, Boronias, Acacias, if wanted to bloom early, encourage by 

 keeping them at the warm end of the house. Keep down insects by 

 fumigating and soap and water, and read over the paper on cleanli- 

 ness in another part of the Florist. 



Orchids. 60° mil still be the night temperature. There will, 

 however, be no harm in allowing the thermometer to run up to 80° 

 by day in bright sunshine, damping the house well at the .«ame time. 

 Continue to pot or re-dress all that show indications of moving be- 

 fore the growth has gone far, or the delicate young roots may get 

 injured. Well soak plants on blocks or in baskets, as the general 

 stock should, during this and the next month, be got into growth. 

 Dry turfy peat, sphagnum, crocks, charcoal, and the rotten part off 

 soft-wooded trees, should always be in condition for using, as potting 

 should take place not all at once, but as the plants' growth demand it. 

 Zygopetalums Loelias, Blitiers, and other plants, as they get into 

 bloom, should be placed at the cool end of the house, and their flowers 

 preserved from damp. 



Pansies. Lose no time in repotting those intended for blooming 



