264 THE FLORIST. 



season as seedlings, which must not be over potted, and watered but 

 sparingly. 



Cinerarias. Plants intended for exhibition should have plenty of 

 room. If crowded there will be no vigour in them to throw up the 

 numerous heads of flower-stalks sufficient to form a good head of 

 bloom. The general stock should be taken out of the pit on a fine day, 

 clean them and replace them, removing a few that are throwing up 

 early flowers into the greenhouse, giving the remainder of the plants 

 the benefit of the room. Fumigate occasionally. 



Carnations and Picolees. The autumn has been even worse for 

 these plants than that of last year ; two such seasons in succession 

 will prove very injurious to the stock in general. Glass, plenty of it, 

 and good glass too, free from drip, will be the only thing to save the 

 stock and keep the plants healthy. With this convenience it is only 

 necessary to give all the air possible in fine weather, by pulling the 

 lights off, keeping the plants raised near the glass, and tilting the 

 lights in wet weather. Water sparingly, and keep the plants clean. 



Dahlias. Store away pot roots when dry, and take the first op- 

 portunity of lifting ground-roots, drying them in an airy shed before 

 storing them for the winter. Drain any water there may be in the 

 stem by standing them crown downwards for a day. Secure the re- 

 mainder of the seed. The pods of the first gathering will now be 

 ripe enough to pull to pieces, spreading the seed on canvas to dry. 



Hollyhocks. Pot up the old stools of choice kinds ; they will 

 winter along the side of walks, in the houses, or in pits and frames. 

 It is the wet which prevents their wintering out of doors. Cuttings 

 can also be taken from them in January and February, which will 

 bloom in September. The plants struck in summer would now be 

 benefited by repotting into a size larger, using tolerably rich soil. 

 These are best wintered in cold pits or frames, near the glass, giving 

 plenty of air. Late- struck plants will require a little heat. 



Pansies, having been potted as directed last month, will only 

 require plenty of air and keeping clean. 



Pinks. These should have been planted for blooming some time 

 past. If the weather has prevented this being done, care should be 

 taken in doing so not to disturb the roots, but to plant them with a 

 good ball of earth. If the ground cannot be caught dry, it would be 

 better to pot them ; pairs in a small pot, and turn them out early in 

 March. 



Pelargoniums. There will not be much to do to the plants this 

 month, but the state of the houses must be attended to. Go where 

 we may, we invariably find the houses damp and cold, instead of 

 warm and dry, as they should be at this season. A fire two or 

 three times a week this damp weather would do good, opening the 

 houses at the time. 



Tulips. Plant immediately if the soil is in good condition ; many 

 plant in October, which is the proper time for offsets. 



