288 THE FLORIST. 



influence of light decreases ; gradually withdraw the shading for the 

 same reason. 



Pansies. — Plant out beds for early spring blooming, and pot up what 

 is required for flowering in pots towards the end of the month. Seed- 

 lings, as soon as large enough, should be planted out for blooming. Late 

 saved seed may be sown, but not later than the first week in the month. 

 Cuttings may be put in at this time with a certainty of striking, if 

 healthy. 



Pines. — As the principal summer crop is over, the beds should be 

 at once prepared for the reception of the ensuing season's crop. Pre\dous, 

 however, to placing the plants in the pits, let the house heating apparatus, 

 &c., be put in good order ; as this cannot be well done after the plants 

 are in. After repeated trials with compost, we still incline to pure 

 loam, if of good quality. As the fruiting plants are placed in their per- 

 manent quarters, pot on all the successions a stage, to fill up their places. 



Pelargoniums. — These should now be housed. It is a common 

 failing to have them out of doox's, or in cold damp pits too long, thus 

 laying the foundation for the spot. Keep the plants hardy, however, 

 by giving them plenty of air. The plants for the May exhibitions, or 

 early bloom, should have their final repottmg towards the end of the month. 

 Stop early struck young plants by pinching a piece out of the point, 

 and look well to young stock generally, which requires much care and 

 attention at this time. Too little growth is made generally before 

 Christmas ; the plants have to do in spring what they should have done 

 in autumn, and are growang when they should be blooming. The 

 consequence is, there is never a good head of bloom at any one time. 

 Fancies require similar treatment, excepting that a little more warmth 

 may be apphed during their young state. 



Pinks. — Prepare beds for planting out at the end of the month for 

 blooming. The beds should be a little raised in the centre, to throw 

 off the wet, and plant about six inches apart. Rotten manure and 

 common road sand should be put in the soil rather plentifully. Pot up 

 a part of the stock, duplicates of the choice^ kinds, for wintering under 

 glass, or otherwise sheltered, similar to Carnations, during the winter. 

 These, if planted out in well prepared beds about the 1st of March, 

 bloom both early and fine. The present number supplies the names of 

 the best new varieties exhibited this season. 



Stove. — During the fine weather we may now expect for a few 

 weeks, let the stove plants, intended to bloom during the winter, be 

 fi*eely exposed ; this will arrest their growth and induce them to bloom 

 at the right time, and let all the plants be closely looked over for insects. 



Tulips. — Examine the bulbs occasionally ; green-fly sometimes attacks 

 the points, and is easily checked if attended to in time. The soil in 

 the beds for blooming them should be occasionally turned. Those that 

 grow for exhibition should be on the alert to improve their stock, as we 

 expect to see a spirited competition at Cambridge next season. The 

 show is not only in the hands of those who \^^ll make the National 

 Tulip Show of 1855 long remembered, but also has the additional 

 stimulus of being the first season of its having the patronage of Her 

 Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. 



