FEBRUARY. 47 



can Cress, blanched Chicory, Water- cresses, Tarragon, winter Onions, 

 Burnet, and Chervil. These two salads were very nearly equal in 

 point of merit ; Mr. Fleming beat Mr. Burns in Chicory, Cucumbers, 

 Lettuce and Beet ; but then Mr. Burns beat Mr. Fleming in Celery, 

 Corn Salad, curled and Batavian Endive, Radishes, and Mustard and 

 Cress, making seven against four : therefore the first prize (a Bank- 

 sian medal), was awarded to Mr. Burns, and the second, a certificate 

 of merit), to Mr. Fleming. Some good hardy winter flowers (cut) 

 were also shown from the Society's Garden, and from the Hon. W. 

 F. Strang way's place in Dorsetshire. 



HINTS FOR THE MONTH. 



Auriculas. The box containing the plants should now be placed to 

 face the south ; water more frequently, as the roots will be at work, 

 and spring-growth will be perceptible in the heart of the plant ; 

 therefore protect from frost or frosty winds, or it will damage the 

 coming bloom. Keep them open, however, on all favourable occa- 

 sions. Mats or some other secure covering should be thrown over 

 the glass on frosty nights. If not already top-dressed, no time 

 should be lost in performing this necessary operation. Many of the 

 smaller young plants that have been wintered in small pots will be 

 benefited by being repotted into a size larger. 



Calceolarias. These thrive in a moist genial atmosphere. Plants 

 for exhibition should now receive a good shift. 



Cinerarias. Those intended for exhibition should now receive 

 their final shift, using rich soil : 8-inch pots are the size they are 

 required to be grown in by the Horticultural and Royal Botanic 

 Societies. Keep them near the glass, without crowding. 



Carnations and Picotees. These will require a general lookin * 

 over and cleaning, which is more effectually done by taking them 

 out of the pit, and replacing them after thoroughly going through 

 them, trimming off all dead leaves, and freshening up the surface of 

 the soil by gently stirring it. Aphides will most likely appear as 

 the plants begin to grow ; keep them down by fumigating ; but 

 these pests to the Florist are not often seen to an injurious extent 

 at this season. If the plants are kept clean and well raised to the 

 light, a gentle shower will do no harm towards the end of the month. 

 Keep the soil in a good dry state for potting, and clean the pots in- 

 tended for blooming, to be in readiness for this important operation. 



Dahlias. These should now be put to work in pits, or on a tan- 

 bed in the propagating-house. As a rule, cuttings taken through 

 March make the best plants, as they are of the right age not to be- 

 come stunted from long keeping, and they are in good time without 

 forcing ; therefore roots started now get into a good state to produce 

 a large batch of cuttings during that time. The first cuttings are 

 often too large and may be thrown aside, unless of a scarce variety. 



Hollyhocks. Continue to increase choice kinds. The old stools 

 will now throw up shoots that make good cuttings. Seedlings in 



