THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 109 



side of a quadrangle of hothouses. A row of sloping flags a few 

 feet wide run along the front, and when October arrives, a row of 

 bricks is placed along the edge of these, and then the flagged space 

 filled up with nice friable loamy soil. The aspect, shelter, and drainage 

 are perfect, of course, and the soil, plants, and all being fresh every 

 year (the old plants and soil being cleared olF every year), the result 

 is perfection itself. Hundreds of bunches are frequently cut from 

 this bed in a single week ; and though at the time of my visit the 

 beds had only been made up about twenty days, they were almost 

 blue. Mr. Barnes finds that young violet plants flower much more 

 freely and abundantly than the old ones, and only cultivates such. 

 The flowers also from yonng plants are much longer in the stem, 

 which is some consideration to those who have to make up many 

 bunches. 



THE CULTIVATION OF GOUEDS AND MAEEOWS. 



[Written for the March No., hut omitted through waut of room.] 



|ETWEEN this time and the 10th of April, intending 

 growers should determine their plans, and sow the 

 seeds of the varieties intended to be grown for show. 

 The first object will be to secure vigorous plants for 

 planting out in May under hand-lights or in frames, and 

 for this purpose the growth should be slow and steady ; no cheek by 

 cold draughts or injudicious watering, and no hurrying by excessive 

 heat. The customary way of raising marrows and cucumbers is 

 objectionable, because it tends to debilitate the plants, so that when 

 put out they are a considerable time recovering. The firi^t error is 

 in sowing several seeds in the same pot, the separation of the plants 

 causing damage to the roots ; the second error is in allowing the 

 seedlings to remain together too long, so that they get drawn, weak, 

 spindliug, and unmanageable. We would advise intending compe- 

 titors to sow the seeds in CO-sized pots, two seeds in each pot. 

 The strongest plant of the two should be allowed to fill the pot 

 with roots, the weakest should be removed as soon as any diff"erence 

 •as to strength is perceptible, the plants removed may be potted into 

 60's to have a chance, but those that remain untouched until they 

 fill their pots with roots will prove the best in the end. Before 

 shifting these, separate the ornamental from the edible kinds, allow 

 the edible kinds, which are required to furnish the largest fruits, to 

 grow as they please ; but the ornamental kinds should be stopped, 

 and allowed to break before being shifted. As in growing large 

 fruits it is essential to have the plants in the fullest possible vigour, 

 with plenty of large healthy leaves, care must be taken at every 

 stage in their growth that they never get pot-bound, and never suffer 

 through lack of air or moisture. 



Eor the seedlings, a light rich fuchsia compost will be most 

 suitable, as it will promote the formation of an abundance of roots. 

 After that, good, sound turfy loam should predominate, and it should 



