1869.] SEASONABLE HINTS FOE AMATEURS. MARCH. 57 



buds from it in the least possible time ; tliese are taken off in rapid succession, 

 and the young plants thereby acquired are again and again subjected to the same 

 treatment. As in consequence the tissues are weakened, the functions of nutri- 

 tion are deranged, and debility ensues, from " the fast life which the plant is 

 compelled to lead." I do not say that individual plants cannot be brought back 

 into their original health and vigour by time and skilful treatment ; on the con- 

 trary, I have proved that they can ; but they often remain in a debilitated con- 

 dition for a long time after having been raised by this extreme forcing process, 

 and there is danger of the reduced vigour becoming fixed or chronic. If by 

 skilful and natural cultivation the vigour of a rose can be increased and main- 

 tained (witness Climbing Aimee Vibert and Climbing Devoniensis), surely it is 

 probable that the converse is equally true, — that by unnatural and unskilful cul- 

 tivation the vigour may be diminished and lost ? Most practical horticulturists 

 must, I think, have met with instances of both amongst the various classes of 

 plants to which they may have given special attention. 



My object in penning the original sentence was to enter a quiet protest 

 against a practice which I should be glad to see discouraged and discontinued. 



Paul's Nurseries, Waltham Cross. William Paul. 



SEASONABLE HINTS FOE AMATEURS.— MARCH. 



4?yL-jrANY very important operations require to be attended to this month, 

 ([JJjJjJ li, but the weather, which at this season is often of boisterous and uncertain 

 character, will rule these. No favourable opportunity should, however, 

 be lost to push on work. All flower borders should now be gone 

 over, and the plants be rearranged, if they require it. All the large herbaceous 

 plants should be divided, the centre part thrown away, and the outside parts 

 replanted, putting a little rotten dung in the holes for them. Phloxes and other 

 tall-growing plants should be kept towards the back of the border, bringing the 

 dwarfer kinds to the front. The borders should then be carefully dug and raked, 

 leaving vacant spaces for sowing and planting annuals, also for planting-out in May 

 Fuchsias, Salvias, herbaceous Lobelias, Heliotropes, Pentstemons, Antirrhinums, 

 &c. Mixed borders, when judiciously planted, are very interesting for the greater 

 part of the year. They are also a ready source from which large quantities of 

 cut-flowers can be obtained for indoor decoration, without disfiguring valuable 

 greenhouse plants. Even at this season, there are a great number of pretty 

 spring-flowering plants, which, when planted largely in borders, make a place 

 gay and interesting. Crocuses of all kinds are extremely beautiful, and when the 

 sun shines brightly, many of them are quite dazzling. Then there are Snowdrops, 

 single and double ; the winter Aconite ; the Dogstooth Violet ; various Narcissi ; 

 Hepaticas, Drabas, Arabises, Alyssums, Primroses, sweet-scented Violets, &c. 

 Gladioli do well in mixed borders, but they do best in beds ; they should have a 

 sheltered, well drained situation, and plenty of decayed manure should be incor- 



