108 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



constant weeding and rolling. Until the 

 tufts join together, weeds of all kinds 

 have their own way, unless kept in check ; 

 but after it has closed and began to form 

 a turf, grass is the only weed that troubles 

 it. Established lawns of spergula need 

 frequent rolling, and that is about all the 

 trouble necessary to keep them in perfect 

 order. If there are many worms in the 

 ground, water with lime-water in damp 

 weather, when the worms are near the 

 surface, to get rid of them, as they not 

 only injure but absolutely destroy this 

 plant by throwing their casts up in the 

 centres of the tufts. 



Orchid House. — This will now be gay 

 with bloom, as many beautiful varieties 

 are in perfection, rewarding one amply for 

 all the care and attention bestowed upon 

 them. The air must still be kept moist, 

 but only in the morning, for if there is 

 much moisture in the atmosphere towards 

 evening the cold nights will cause conden- 

 sation and drip, and some injury to plants 

 will result from it. During bright weather 

 shading must be used ; plants in suspended 

 baskets may be taken down now and then, 

 and immersed in water of the temperature 

 of the house ; those which will bear cool 

 treatment may be removed to the conser- 

 vatory. 



Stove. — Sprinkle water frequently 

 upon the pavement, to keep up a moist 

 atmosphere, especially where begonias and 

 other soft-leaved plants are growing. A 

 single drop of water on the leaf of any of 

 the variegated begonias will spoil its 

 beauty, but atmospheric moisture they will 

 absorb to almost any extent, if the tem- 

 perature suits them. This is the best time 

 to propagate a supply of Cannas, Begonias, 

 Euphorbias, Justicias, Poinsettias, and 

 other quick-growing soft-wooded plants 

 for display during winter. Specimen 

 plants to be assisted with manure water, 

 and shoots to be stopped of all shrubby 

 and branching kinds. Justicias especially 

 should be freely grown now, to get the 

 wood well ripened for a good bloom at the 

 turn of the year. 



Greenhouse. — Aphis Brush. — The 

 soft brushes sold for the removal of 

 aphides are of great service w T here a few 

 plants are affected and it is not worth 

 while to fumigate, and it obviates that too 

 common practice of crushing the vermin 

 on the plants with the fingers. Pinks and 

 auriculas are better cleaned by the brush 

 than any other method. 



Asters, Stocks, and Balsams to be 

 shifted frequently as required ; give them 

 plenty of air and water, or they will be 

 eaten up with fly. Hot weather will 



throw balsams into bloom if they are at 

 all pot-bound or dry at the root ; and 

 those not yet sufficiently grown and which 

 are showing bloom should have the buds 

 nipped out as fast as they show, and be 

 shifted in rich compost to the next size, to 

 encourage growth. 



Azaleas going out of bloom to have all 

 the ill-placed shoots cut back, the trusses 

 removed, the plants placed in a moderate 

 heat, liberally supplied with water, and 

 frequently syringed. Camellias have 

 mostly completed their growth now, and 

 require to be hardened. Though gene- 

 rally placed out for this purpose, we are 

 inclined to believe that where it is conve- 

 nient they are best under glass the whole 

 year round, as in the open-air the light is 

 too strong for shrubs that naturally grow 

 in shady humid places. Certainly the 

 best collections everywhere are under 

 glass at all seasons. 



Balsams and Cockscombs for exhibition 

 to have a good shift in rich light soil, and 

 a little extra heat to promote new roots. 

 They must have abundance of water, to 

 prevent green-fly, which is sure to attack 

 them if they are starved. As they fill 

 their pots with roots, give manure water, 

 but not till the roots touch the sides of the 

 pots. Balsams required very large must 

 have the bloom buds nipped out as fast as 

 they show, and the points of the shoots 

 stopped, to cause them to break and form 

 dense bushes. 



Bedding Plants to be got from under 

 glass as fast as po-sible, to harden off in 

 the open-air. Never plant immediately 

 after removing from warm pit or green- 

 house ; but let them have at least a week 

 in the open-air, kept rather dry, and with 

 some protection at night, in case of frost. 



Chrysanthemums lately struck to be 

 potted off, and have a little bottom-heat 

 for a week or ten days, and after that to 

 be plunged in beds of coal ashes or cocoa- 

 nut waste. Cuttings put in now will make 

 nice shrubby plants by autumn, if well 

 treated. When shifted to 60's, let them 

 have a firm loamy soil, plenty of turf, and 

 well-rotted dung, abundance of water 

 overhead as well as at the root, and ex- 

 posure to all weathers. 



Cinerarias to have a little sandy com- 

 post placed around the stool into which 

 the suckers will throw roots, so that when 

 taken off they may be put into thumbs- 

 singly at once, which is a gain of time and 

 strength to the plants. As they are cut 

 down and moulded, place them in a cold 

 frame, and shade from mid-day sun. 



Circumposition is a method of propa- 

 gating without removing the shoot to be- 



