i88i.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 67 



easily in flower at this season. If the roots of any of them are con- 

 fined, they may be cleared of their inert surfaces, and a thin coating 

 of rotten manure, loam, and peat substituted. Weak, clear manure- 

 water — like pale sherry — may be given to those flowering. The 

 short flowering period is often due to starvation of the confined 

 roots. Thick, muddy manure - water for such plants is ruinous. 

 Roses, bulbs of sorts, Hepaticas, Violets, Mignonette, Cinerarias (these 

 may require larger pots), Harrison's Musk, Primulas (double and 

 single). Cyclamens, and Pinks, are all favourites at this season. They 

 may be assisted with manure-water and rich surfaces ; their pots placed 

 into larger ones, with soil to root through into, may help to lengthen 

 their period of flowering. Force on Azaleas and all the hardy shrubs 

 and other plants suitable for winter and spring flowering — Deutzias, 

 Dielytras, Lily of the Valley, Lilacs, Spiraea japonica, Kalmias, Cherries, 

 Pyrus japonica. Thorns, Guelder Rose. Mock Oranges can now be 

 brought forward with gentle warmth. When the flowers begin to 

 open they may be removed to more airy and cool quarters. 



Bouvardias, Epiphyllums, Burchellias, Libonias, Plumbago rosea, 

 and similar plants requiring heat, should (when in conservatory) be 

 placed away from draughts. Young stock of plants should be kept 

 free from green-fly ; none should be huddled together ; give air and 

 light to all. 



STOVE. 



For the plants in this department a good stock of peat and loam is 

 indispensable. The days being longer, and the sun expected to be 

 more powerful, it is a favourable period to get all the inmates of 

 stoves examined as to the condition of their roots. When it is neces- 

 sary to increase the plant to the size of a specimen, any inert soil 

 may be cleared away and the ball planted firmly into a pot one size 

 larger than its former one. The soil and roots should be moist when 

 they are transferred to the larger shift ; firm potting is in most cases 

 desirable. Some mutilate the ball by cutting it severely with the 

 view of allowing the roots to be free to run into the new soil at once ; 

 but it often takes them much longer to recover from the " chopping- 

 off" method than the taking to the fresh soil by the "pot-bound" ball 

 of roots, and the check is immensely greater. All plants require some 

 help at this time ; but to pot all and sundry, whether they require it 

 or not, is mischief which will show itself in due time. Where roots 

 may be scarce, use a minimum size of pots, and the soil more sandy 

 than for vigorous healthy roots. Peat, sand, turfy loam, with some 

 charcoal added, suits most stove-plants. Fleshy, strong-rooted kinds 

 require little in the way of peat to grow in. When potting is done, 

 cleaning the structure in every part should have attention. Where 

 there is no separate structure in which plants are to flower, there is a 

 difticulty in making the one structure answer all purposes. The 

 syringe must be used cautiously among flowering subjects. Amaryllis, 



