THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



251 



taction of ferns in tbe open ground than cocoa-nut waste — not, lioTvever, to be 

 spread over the ground at random, but to be heaped over the separate crowns, and 

 there left till the end of March, then to be removed during mild weather, and tbe 

 crowns left again exposed to swell and expand with the advance of the season. As 

 very many ferns, not quite hardy, are now grown in the open air in our gardens, 

 these remarks may be of use in many instances to prevent losses. The commoner 

 and robuster kinds of British ferns will generally take care of themselves, though 

 if protected with cocoa dust they throw up much finer fronds the next season. 

 Hardy ferns in pots require more care. They ought never to be exposed to frost at 

 all, and they should never be allowed to get quite dry at the root. When potting 

 them, there should be plenty of drainage used, expressly to allow supplies of water 

 all winter as well as all summer. 



Hardy Pentstemons that will live anywhere all 

 THE Winter. — R. W. B. — Procerus, dwarf, green all 

 winter, produces dense masses of pale, purplish flowers in 

 spring. Crassifolms makes a dwarf, spherical, crisp-leaved 

 evergreen bush ; flowers rather sparingly. A gem for 

 rock-work. Oentlanoides alba lives out anywhere, except 

 . on the cold clays near London. In Ireland it makes 

 bushes four or five feet over, which are wonderful objects 

 v.'hen in bloom. 



Mossy Lawn. — J. Simson. — Give your lawn a good 

 dressing of lime or superphosphate, and the moss will 

 perish, and clover take its place. Clover invariably 

 appears in plenty after liming, and moss never ^thrives 

 where lime is present. In future, spread a thin coat of 

 manure over the grass every year, in February. 



Variois. — Hex. — We are much obliged for having 

 our attention called to the matter, which, on our 

 part, is one of "undesigned coincidence." TF. B. B. 

 will not be a contributor in future. — Alpha. — Dressed 

 flowers have the advantage of looking very nice 

 on the exhibition table. Of course they misrepresent 

 the varieties. The plan you inquire about is illustrated 

 in the subjoined diagram. You can easily introduce 

 into your schedule a class for roses, asters, etc., etc., 

 to be shown in this way. Hitherto this mode of showing 

 has met with but little favour. — W. Perry. — Mr. Hibberd 

 does not sell geraniums, or trade in any kind of articles. 

 You can obtain the plants by sending to Mr. B. S. 

 Williams, Victoria Nursery, Holloway. — Vindex. — We consider Raphanus caudatus 

 trash, and therefore have not much to say about it. 



Clipping Hedge.s. — H. C. P. — Yew and privet hedges may be cut at any time 

 that is convenient, without fear of doing them injury. Bat the best time is the 

 month of March, just before they begin to make new growth ; and by deferring the 

 work till then, you have the advantage of their greenness all the winter. As privet 

 grows very fast, a second clipping should take place in the first week of July, where 

 sharp, close lines are wanted. 



Thrip in Vineey. — J. S. — This pest is usually accompanied by another — 

 namely, the dreadful red spider — -and the same means employed will rid the house 

 of both. Wash evei-j' part of the vinery, using warm water and a brush for all glass 

 and wood-work, and lime-wash made from hot lime, with a little sulphur in it, for 

 the walls. Slightly soak the border (if the border is inside), and water it with 

 water to which sulphur has been added at the rate of one ounce to two gallons. 

 Lastly, paint the pipes with sulphur mixed with milk and water. If the plague 

 appears again, repaint the pipes once a week. 



Stipa penxata.— I think it right to inform E. R. F., of Faversham, that of the 

 seeds kindly sent in the spring, fifty were selected and sown on an open border. On 

 that border there are now thirty-five plants. I suspect a few of tbe stipas were 

 destroyed in the process of weeding, a few weeks back, and probably all the 

 seeds germinated. I am much indebted to E. R. F. for the means of making this 

 interesting experiment, which makes an end of my oft-repeated assertion, that it is 

 a folly to sow seed of Stipa pennata. It follows, also, that probably the seeds 



