86 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



weak liquid manure as soon as the fruits 

 begin to swell ; at the same time thin the 

 crop, and syringe every morning. All the 

 foregoing may have a temperature not 

 lower than 48' at night, nor higher than 

 88' by day ; keep as much within these 

 extremes as possible, and give plenty of 

 air till 2 p.m. on bright sunny days. 



Pits and Frames. — Cucumbers require 

 careful management in dull weather. See 

 that the beds are not too moist, or mildew 

 may appear. Add fresh linings, fork up 

 the beds, give air cautiously, stop and 

 train, and use tobacco at the first sign of fly. 



Cucumbers for ridge culture to be kept 

 as hardy as possible, but not to be 

 checked. Give them a shift if they 

 require it, and frequently sprinkle over 

 the foliage. First make sure of a strong 

 plant, and you will then be sure of abun- 

 dance of fruit. Fruiting cucu rubers must 

 have shade during mid-day hours now, 

 but keep the lights tilted, to give air. 

 "Water round the sides and the frames to 

 keep the atmosphere moist. 



Pines fruiting require more air than 

 growing plants, or the fruit will be 

 flavourless. If the fruit needs support, it 

 is a proof the plants are not robust. 



Straiolerries ripening to have less 

 water and plenty of light ; temperature 

 not lower than 55° by night, nor higher 

 than 70' by day. Remove runners on 

 plants coming into fruit ; those gathered 

 from may be allowed to run, to make 

 early plants for forcing next year. 



Vegetable Marrows sown now will 

 produce almost as early as those sown a 

 fortnight or a month since. It is best to 

 get the plants on singly in'pots, as they 

 are shorter and stronger when turned out 

 than if grown several in a pot and 

 allowed^to sprawl about and spindle away 

 their strength. 



GREENIIOUSE PLANTS AND FLOWERS. — 



Actinotus helianthi, a not very interesting 

 umbelliferous plant from Holland. It is 

 an herbaceous greenhouse perennial, grown 

 in loam and peat, and propagated by 

 dividing the root. To have it in flower 

 now it should be put in a gentle heat in 

 February, and have the same treatment as 

 Dielytras for early blooming. 



Athanasia tomentosa, a pretty com- 

 posite-flowered greenhouse evergreen, 

 from the Cape. Grows well in peat one- 

 third and loam two-thirds, with plenty 

 of drainage, and valuable now for its 

 yellow star-like flowers to group with 

 cinerarias. 



Arum crinilum, from Minorca, is an 

 interesting plant, worthy of a place in 

 every collection. Grows well in sandy 

 loam in a greenhouse temperature, and 

 has a tropical appearance. 



Abutilon striatum. — This never does 

 so well as when planted out in a border of 

 rich loam and peat, in a cool house, and 

 left to grow almost as it pleases. Carrie . 

 across the path of the house on a wire or 

 chain, it is one of the most graceful and 

 free-blooming of all climbers ; and in 

 Devonshire and other south-western 

 countries is quite hardy on a south wall 

 in a soil that suits it. 



Anthocercis viscosa is a useful stove 

 plant which may be made something of in 

 a warm greenhouse, if encouraged in 

 spring with a genial temperature. Speci- 

 men plants may be got up six or seven 

 feet in height, when it is a good subject, 

 but in a small state is comparatively un- 

 interesting. This is the time to propagate 

 it from cuttings of ripe wood, which should 

 be inserted in sand, without water, and 

 left for about ten days covered with a 

 bell-glass to callus ; then, if placed in 

 bottom-heat, they soon form root. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Catalogues Received. — " "William 

 Thompson, Tavern Street, Ipswich, 

 Descriptive Catalogue of a Choice Col- 

 lection of Annual, Biennial, and Peren- 

 nial Flower Seeds." A very carefully- 

 prepared and valuable catalogue. Mr. 

 Thompson's fame as a grower of first- 

 class annuals will ensure for his catalogue 

 a large circulation and an attentive 

 perusal, which it well merits, as the 

 remarks upon the various subjects are 

 thoroughly practical, and being the re- 

 sult of experience and dictated by good 

 judgment, are of great value. — " Charles 



Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough, and 

 Salt Hill, near Eton and Windsor, Cata- 

 logue of Seeds for the Kitchen Garden, 

 Flower Garden, and Farm." Mr. Tur- 

 ner's catalogue is as good as ever, and 

 contains a particularly fine assortment 

 of first-class vegetable seeds. The lists 

 of new peas and potatoes are especially 

 worthy attention. — " Barr and Sugden, 

 12, King Street, Coveut Garden, London. 

 Compendium of their Illustrated Guide 

 to the Flower and Kitchen Garden." 

 Consists of 20 folio pages, closely printed. 

 It is full of excellent lists of all kinds of 



