THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN QUIDE. 



59 



through freely. When this is not Jone 

 in spring, it often happens that having once 

 got dry the water never afterwards wets 

 the roots properly, but runs away down the 

 sides of the pots, and after languishing 

 some time, the plants die altogether. Get 

 all stove plants frona cutting-pans and 

 boxes potted off. Start old plants of bed- 

 ders to get cuttings, and put in cuttings 

 as soon as tl ey can be taken, to have the 

 bedders forward in time to plant out strong. 

 With the rise of the thermometer there 

 ■will be an increase of grcen-hy, and plants 

 with soft leaves will be attacked first. 

 Look to the under sides of the leaves of 

 cinerarias, calceolarias, pelargoniums, etc., 

 and if any fly, jrat tbe plants together in a 

 box and fumigate, or till the house with 

 smoke, and syringe next day. In private 

 collections, fumigatingrhouses ought never 

 to be needful. A plant here and there may 

 he affected, but from single plants the fly 

 can be easily removed witii a soft brush, or 

 hy dipping in weak tobacco water. All 

 hard-wooded plants coming into leaf to be 

 freely syringed. Temperature 45' at night, 

 55° to 60" by day. Bottom ^ heat for cut- 

 tings, 60' to 70 \ 



Cold Frame. — Remove all dead leaves. 

 Keep the shelves or plunging material mo- 

 derately dry, give air as often as possible. 

 Tender plants that have been wintered in 

 cold frames must have very little water at 

 present; they may be growing in conse- 

 quence of the mildness of the weather, yet 

 as frosts may visit us, much moisture at 

 the root will render them miffy, and losses 

 may occur. But nothing should be allowed 

 to get dust dry, it is most injurious. Ferns 

 and calceolarias may have water freely 

 if well drained. 



ViNEur,— Where the vines are break- 

 ing promote a moist state of the atmo- 

 sphere, this is favourable to a healthy leaf 

 growth, and on that will chiefly depend 

 the quantity and quality of the produce. 

 Vines coming into bloom to be kept rather 

 dry. Vines not yet started may be greatly 

 assisted by making up a bed of ferment- 

 ing dung in the middle of the house ; the 

 warm vapour from this will be very bene- 

 ficial. If the vine border is at aU dry, 

 give it a good soaking with tepid water. See 

 that all bearing rods are] neatly trained; if 

 any pruning neglected, attend to it at once. 

 Vines bleeding through being pruued too 

 late may be stopped by cutting raw pota- 

 toes to fit tight over the wound. 



Flokists' Flowers : Auriculas, — 

 Water gradually as they show signs of 

 growth, and top-dress the pots with well- 

 decayed cow-dung. Give plenty of air, 

 and beware of damp. As auriculas are 



forward this season, they will require extra 

 care in the event of late frosts. 



Carnations and Picotees. — Put out the 

 whole stock of carnations, picotees, and 

 pinks in the first warm shower we have, 

 and defer watering them as long as will be 

 safe to do so, in order that they may derive 

 full benefit from the rain. Keep the plants 

 hardy, and make ready for repotting. 

 Turn over the compost intended for them, 

 and make careful search for wire-worm. 



Cinerarias will now want regular at" 

 tention to preserve a healthy foliage, as 

 well as secure a good bloom. Drought 

 will do them much harm, but they must 

 have plenty of air, after being watered, to 

 get ttieir leaves dry before night. Green- 

 fly will nov/ infest them unless kept in 

 chock. Put the forv/ardest in the house 

 for blooming, 



Camellias are now coming into bloom, 

 and need occasional doses of weak liquid 

 manure, and fx'equently syringing of the 

 foliage. It would be well to go over the 

 whole stock, and sponge every leaf with 

 tepid water, which will give the plants a 

 bright and beautiful appearance, and very 

 much promote their health. A hundred 

 may be sponged in the course of a morn- 

 ing, when the weather does not allow of 

 out-door work ; the sponge will remove 

 soot and dust more effectually than the 

 syringe. Plants done blooming must be 

 kept warm, and enjoy a moist air. Camel- 

 lias in bloom keep at 45' by night, and 

 55' to 60' by day, and with plenty of 

 water. Plants for Jate flowering keep only 

 just safe from frost. 



Fuchsias. — Start the plants into growth, 

 and when well broken repot. Cuttings 

 struck now will -make good plants this 

 season. 



Uollyhochs may bo increased from cut- 

 tings in a gentle heat, and seeds of choice 

 kinds may be sown with others in a warm 

 pit, or V/altonian case. Get the stations 

 ready for those to be planted out this 

 spring. Dig deep, and manure well with 

 rotted cow-dung. 



Tulips. — Protect from heavy rains and 

 severe frosts, but never leave the coverings 

 on one hour more than needful, for they 

 never bloom well if made tender. When 

 the foliage shows regularly over the bed, 

 stir the surface between the rows with a 

 small three-tined fork. 



Pelargoniums ought now to be growing 

 freely, and on warm bright days should be 

 watered so as to soak the ball and bring 

 every rootlet into action. Use heat enough 

 to allow of air being on all day. In bright 

 weather sprinkle the floor of the house to 

 create a humid atmosphere. 



