THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



255 



shine, or in undue warmth, even if in 

 darkness, will probably go to a pulp as 

 soon as it is completely thawed ; but if 

 thawed slowly in dark and stillness will re- 

 cover, if the freezing has been only to a 

 moderate degree. These remai'ks refer 

 chiefly to half-hardy and greenhouse plants, 

 such as geraniums, etc., etc., but they 

 apply also to hardy plants when the frost 

 catches them out of the ground, as, for in- 

 stance, trees on their way from nurseries, 

 if the roots get frozen they suffer much 

 unless thawed in the dark, as advised for 

 plants of more tender constitution. 



Greenhouse. — At every opportunity 

 pass the whole of the plants through a 

 careful hand, whose duty it will be to re- 

 move dead leaves, trim away dead snags 

 or mildewed shoots, give water if needful, 

 and see that the drainage of the pots is 

 safe. Once a month at least this should be 

 done from October to March, and for lack 

 of such a rule many valuable plants are 

 lost, for many shrubs will appear still green 

 and lively long after they are absolutely 

 dead at the collar through a stoppage of 

 the drainage. Use tepid water to all plants 

 in a growing state, and as little as possible 

 to everything, so as to avoid as much as 

 can be the use of fire-heat. Remember, 

 the more moisture the more heat and the 

 more air, and vice versa. If you cannot 

 give air or use fire, then cease to give 

 water, and keep all paths and stages clean. 



Primulas and Cyclamens to be kept in 

 the warmest part of the house, and have 

 every encouragement to push forward for 

 bloom. Keep these near the glass, where 

 there is no drip. 



Spring Flowers to be thought of now, 

 so as to secure a proper succession of Cy- 

 clamen, Primula, Cineraria, and a few 

 potted Pansie.s. The chief point in manag- 

 ing these things is to keep them as near the 

 glass as possible. Give water very care- 

 fully, to guard against damp at the collar, 

 and let them have as much air as possible 

 consistent with their forwardness and the 

 state of the weather. Those to be pushed 

 on for a first supply keep in warm green- 

 house temperature, and constantly look out 

 for fly which will revel amongst them if 

 not checked in time. 



S'icculeiit Plants must now be ar- 

 ranged in their winter quarters. In a 

 mixed collection the best place for them 

 is a top shelf in the full light, and where 

 they are not likely to suffer by drip. The 

 requirements for their winter safety are a 

 dry position, plenty of light, air when 

 needful, and security from frost. Give 

 them no water from this date, or at most 

 water with caution only such as obviously 



need it ; and any in active growth or 

 flower keep warm until they go to resfa 



Vinery. — Vines grown in pots* for 

 forcing for early grapes may now be shifted 

 into large pots, and the safest way to do it 

 will be to shift pots and all, and without 

 turning out the roots of the vines. Pre- 

 pare the 12-inch pots with crocks and a 

 few inches of compost ; enlarge the 

 drainage holes of the pots the vines are in, 

 then place these pots inside the larger 

 pots, and fill in with tough turfy compost ; 

 the outer pot will soon be full of roots, and 

 the vines may be allowed to carry all the 

 bunches they show, and when these are 

 ripe the vines should be destroyed. Yines 

 to rest from this time to be pruned at once; 

 in fact, early pruning is the only safe 

 method of preventing bleeding. 



Stove. — Forcing to be commenced 

 now, and in accordance with hints already 

 given preparatory to it. First clean the 

 glass, to make sure of the utmost possible 

 amount of light ; then get together the 

 fermenting materials— leaves and sweet 

 dung chiefly, and over this lay six inches 

 of tan or spent hops to plunge the pots in. 

 Put in nothing but what has been prepared 

 for the work, and has ripe wood and well- 

 formed flower buds. Azaleas, Camellias, 

 Gardenias, Roses, hybrid Rhododendrons, 

 double Plums and Peaches, double Cherry, 

 Weigelias, Tree Pceonies, Chimonanthus 

 fragrans, Rhododendron ciliatum, Cytissus 

 Atleeana, Kalmias, Andromeda floribunda, 

 Daphnes, and Jasminum nudifiorum, are 

 all cheap and easy subjects to force, and 

 all beautiful in their season. It requires 

 more skill, and a good stove, to manage 

 Poinsettia pulcherrima, Euphorbia Jac- 

 quiniflora, Aehimenes, and Gloxinias 

 nicely, but these may be forced in dung- 

 heat where there is plenty of room, plenty 

 of material, and some experience at com- 

 mand for the purpose. 



Okchid House. — Orchids at rest to be 

 kept moderately dry and ventilated. En- 

 deavour to make them rest completely, as 

 if they do not enjoy a season of complete 

 repose, they will not bloom so satisfac- 

 torily next season. Those that do not 

 naturally rest to have the warmest posi- 

 tions, but even these are not now to be en- 

 couraged to grow more than sufficient to 

 keep them in health. Now is a most con- 

 venient season for a general examination 

 of the stock, and the renewal of blocks, 

 baskets, etc., for improving the effect of 

 the grouping and arrangement. Repot 

 any that require it, and let every plant 

 undergo an examination, during which the 

 surface material should be wholly or ar- 

 tially removed. 



