278 



THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Vines breaking to liave a gradual rise 

 of temperature, beginninrr at ar. average 

 of 55\ with a rise of 10' during sunsbine. 

 As the vine^ acquire a vigorous growtli, 

 raise the heat so as to average Go' by day 

 and GO' at night when they come into 

 bloom. Too sudden a rise will make long 

 joints and weakly growth, independent of 

 the injury to tlie crop. A warm dry 

 border will do as mucli as the best manage- 

 ment of the temperature of the liouse. 



Bedding plants should he looked over 

 occasionally, and tbe pits and frames 

 emptied and filled again to clear away all 

 dead leaves and insure a good airing. 

 Amateurs have many losses tbrough lack 

 of attention to this work, and mildew makes 

 havoc unseen while there appears to be 

 nothing the matter. Short of actual frost, 

 the more air the better, and if water is 

 wanted, give a good soaking on a fine 

 morning when the barometer is high and 

 steady, so that the balls may get a little 

 dry again before change of weatber to wet 

 or frost. 



VEBMi>f. — Now that gardeners have a 

 little breathing time is a good opportunity 

 for cleaning frames, lights, and the under 

 sides of stages, and other places where 

 vermin harbour. In the stove there is 

 often great need of such work when there 

 is no time to do it. 



Auriculas to be kept clean, and to have 

 not a drop more water than will just keep 

 them alive. 



Azaleas to bloom early, to have very 

 moderate bottom-heat, and be syringed 

 daily. Those still at rest to have a rather 

 dry air. 



Bulbs to be planted at once if any re- 

 main out. Use plenty of sand about them 

 to prevent rotting, as the ground is very 

 wet and cold. 



Camellias will not stand so much heat 

 as azaleas. As you can get time clean the 

 foliage of specimen plants. 



Carnations in pits to have as much air 

 as possible, and little or no water. On 

 fine mornings take the lights off. Keep 

 them very clean. 



Cinerarias will want plenty of air to 

 prevent mildew. Choose bright mornings 

 to water, and get tlieir leaves dry before 

 shutting up. See that specimen plants are 

 in good shape, and peg out the leaves if 

 necessary. 



Forcing.— Kq&'^ asparagus going for 

 succession. Rhubarb, seakale, and French 

 beans will soon be in request. Lay a few 

 picked tubeis of early potatoes on a warm 

 flue to sprout for planting over dung-heat, 

 and get a bed or two ready. 



Bush fruits should be planted, potted, 



pruned, and manured. Burn the prunings, 

 and if the ashes are not wanted for any 

 particular purpose throw them round the 

 roots of trees; they are powerfully fertiliz- 

 ing. Gooseberries and currants may be 

 lightly forked between to mix the manure 

 with the soil, but raspberries should have 

 three or four inches of dung, not very 

 rotten, laid over the piece, and the soil be- 

 tween them should not be dug at all. 

 Orchard-house trees may b^ pruned at 

 once, and washed with a solution of eight 

 ounces of Gishurst to a gallon of soft 

 water. 



Azaleas and Camellias claim attention 

 now that we have little else to depend upon 

 to keep the conservatory gay. A little 

 pains now bestowed in training and dis- 

 budding will repay, and camellias are so 

 heavily set with buds that, generally speak- 

 ing, it would be most unwise to allow all 

 to remain. We have seen lately bushels 

 of buds removed in some places where a 

 moderate show of fine flowers is preferred 

 to a mass of indifferent ones, the profusion 

 of which will weaken the plants. 



Bulbs not yet planted must be got in, 

 and as they are unusually fine tijis season, 

 purchases may yet be made. We always 

 advise early purchasing and earlj' planting; 

 but if we would ever excuse delny it is 

 now, the stock being in such prime condi- 

 tion that the bloom is sure to be satisfactory, 

 though the after growth n ay be weak 

 through their remaining out of the ground 

 too long. 



Cucumhers must be thinned if the plants 

 are more than moderately fruitful, or they 

 will fail to give a succession when the fruit 

 may be most desired. 



Carnations and Picotees. — The young 

 stocks look amazingly well tliis season. 

 They require plenty of air and very mode- 

 rate watering, and be kept chan. 



Cinerarias and Calceolarias for speci- 

 mens may now want a shift ; they must on 

 no account get pot-bound, or they will 

 bloom prematurely. Water on fine morn- 

 ings, and beware of green-fly and mildew. 



Climbers in greenhouses may now have 

 special attention to reduce their dimensions. 

 Lay in wood for next summer's bloom, and 

 clear the walls and trellises. 



Evergreen shrubs planted now must be 

 heavily nmlched with dung to keep frost 

 from their roots. 



Pelargoniums to be cautiously watered 

 and allowed to rest. Specimens may be 

 tied out, and stock struck late may be 

 sliifted and kept growing. 



JRoses may be planted now during dry 

 weather; the ground to be in good heart, 

 deeply trenched, and well manured. On 



