THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



13 



Tulips breaking ground now are likely 

 to suffer by frost. Heap cones of sand 

 around them before the crowns open, and 

 cover with mats on hoops while the weather 

 continues severe. 



Evergreen shrubs bad best not be trans- 

 planted or in any way disturbed for a few 

 weeks hence. After December we prefer 

 not to move them till between March and 

 May, as the ground is now so cold that they 

 cannot make new roots in it. 



Lawns that require renovation, to be 

 taken in hand at once. There is no plan 

 so effectual as a liberal sowing of good 

 seed, which should be obtained from a 

 house which devotes its attention especially 

 to the growth of grasses and the selection 

 of sorts fur various kinds of soil. New 

 lawns sown down now will have a good 

 turf by midsummer. 



Wall Trees may now be pruned and 

 nailed in. Use shreds as small as possible, 

 and prepare the nails by making them red 

 hot, and throwing them into oil. 



Conservatory. — Let nothing suffer 

 now for want of fire-heat. Forced bulbs 

 ■will require warm positions, but heaths, 

 epacrises, and other hard-wooded plants 

 may be ::t the cool end. For succession now 

 mignonette, primulas, violets, lily of the 

 valley, Luculia gratissima, Poinsettias, 

 Euphorbias, and Justitias, are particularly 

 valuable. Keep the atmosphere pretty dry 

 to prolong the bloom of camellias, azaleas, 

 etc. Average temperature 45' by night, 

 and 55 3 to 65' by day. 



Orchid-house. — Slightly increase the 

 temperature and humidity of the atmo- 

 sphere, as many will now be starting into 

 growth ; but many will still be dormant, 

 and therefore care is required, as these 

 must not be hastily excited. As soon as 

 any plants have made a good start, see to 

 the necessary shifting and surfacing, using 

 the compost in a rough state, mixed with 

 small lumps of charcoal and sandstone. 



Greenhouse. — May have a rise in 

 temperature, and growth may be en- 

 couraged. Beware of damp, give liberal 

 ventilation, and remove all dead leaves and 

 whatever may be likely to encourage ver- 

 min and mildew. 



Pelargoniums. — Shift specimens into 

 their blooming pots, give a slight rise in 

 the temperature, and keep near the glass. 



Ericas to be kept cool and airy, and 

 fire-heat used only when necessary to keep 

 out frost. 



"Bedding Plants must now be thought 

 of, quantities of the several kinds deter- 

 mined, and hot-beds made up for starting 

 <>M plants for cuttings, and for the first 

 batch of plants required early. Old ver- 



benas, petunias, Cupheas, Oenotheras, 

 Tropajolums, etc., may be put into a steady 

 heat at once to furnish young shoots for 

 propagating, and seeds may be sown of 

 Lobelia erinus speciosa if to be raised from 

 seed, by which means it comes pretty 

 true. 



Fuchsias to be looked over, and those 

 wanted to bloom early to be repotted into 

 small pots, and placed in a moist and 

 gentle heat. 



Cinerarias throwing up their flower 

 stems to be put in an intermediate house 

 for early flowers. The most backward to 

 be repotted at once, so as to make fine 

 specimens for a very late bloom. Keep the 

 stock clean, use sulphur where mildew 

 occurs, and fumigate for green-fly. Give 

 particular care now to specimens for exhi- 

 bition ; remove small shoots, and peg down 

 those that are best placed to produce a 

 round and solid head of bloom. 



Azaleas coming into bloom must be 

 kept at a regular temperature, and have 

 plenty of water. Beware of urging them 

 too rapidly, and place none in the stove 

 until they have been first gently stimulated 

 by the warmth of an intermediate house. 

 Plants in flower will require a night tem- 

 perature of 50', to rise to 60'and65 J by 

 day. Those for late blooming should have 

 a temperature not lower than 40 1 by night, 

 and as much ventilation as the weather 

 permits. 



Camellias. — These tohave similar treat- 

 ment to that advised for azaleas. The 

 whole stock ought to have been disbudded 

 long since ; if neglected, do it now. Plants 

 coming into bloom to be assisted by sprink- 

 ling the borders, paths, and pipes occa- 

 sionally to allow a diffusion of vapour. 

 There is no class of plants that more enjoy 

 atmospheric moisture, but as the blooms 

 expand they require a drier and cooler 

 air. 



Orchard-house. — The litter may now 

 be removed from amongst the pots which 

 have been so protected. If the trees look 

 at all shrivelled, give each pot a quart of 

 water, choosing a fine morning for the job. 

 After severe weather the trees will be in 

 haste to break if the weather becomes 

 fine and warm. This should be discouraged 

 as much as possible. Prevent, by freely 

 ventilating, any undue rise of tempera- 

 ture on fine bright days, and, if pos- 

 sible, keep all quiet till the end of Feb- 

 ruary. 



Forcing. — Strawberries in the forcing- 

 house will swell their fruit grandly if the 

 pots are placed in pans filled with fresh 

 dung and kept always wet; the dung to be 

 renewed every ten days. As soon as the 



