GG THE GARDENER. [Fef. 



year through, if they can be induced to make fresh wood to supply the 

 blooms, and the way to accomplish this is to keep pruning at them 

 every month of the year. When one bud or cluster of flowers has 

 faded or been otherwise removed, the shoot which bore it should 

 be shortened back a little way, but leaving a number of buds, which 

 will soon sprout again, run into branches, and form buds and flowers, 

 to be reproduced by a repetition of the same operations. 



J. MuiR. 



M ARC AM. 



HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



There should now be a good preparation of soil in dry quarters to be 

 ready for use. During this month much potting may be done, and a 

 store of peat, loam, charcoal, sand, and healthy well-rotted leaf-mould 

 will be of much value. Potting, especially peat, soil should never be 

 dust-dry when used, and if very wet it is also objectionable. When pot- 

 ting early, and especially plants which have few roots, we never like 

 to use extra-rich soil, even when the plants may be gross feeders. The 

 absence of air causes soil to become sour and unhealthy. Good drain- 

 age and clean pots are of great moment for plants at any period of 

 their growth. The numerous specimens of New Holland plants which 

 flower at this season are invaluable for decorative purposes. Pure 

 water (rain-water is always best), fresh air, absence of crowding, no 

 coddling with heat — artificial heat only given to expel damp and keep 

 out frost, — good drainage, and cleanliness on every part, are indispen- 

 sable to the healthy growth of these plants. Correas (cardinalis is very 

 showy), Chorozemas, Lapagerias, Genetyllis, Grevilleas, Aotus, are now 

 most serviceable ; and when not pressed with heat will flower freely 

 far into the spring. Epacris, Erica, Hyemalis, Wilmoreii (autumn 

 Gracilis in middle of February are at their last), CafFra, and others 

 which have done service early and going out of flower, may be moder- 

 ately cut back and placed in a gentle moist heat till they show signs of 

 breaking. They then may be reduced at their balls and placed in 

 smaller or same sized pots ; and when growth is active they will do 

 well with ordinary greenhouse treatment. It is of importance to have 

 these early into flower during autumn and winter. 



A few small plants of these bought each season are most serviceable. 

 It is a profitless operation to propagate small quantities of them. Tear 

 and wear by cutting, and confinement in rooms, are very destructive 

 to them. Cytisus atleeansis and racemosus, Coronillas, Camellias, 

 Acacias, Habrothamnus, Imantophyllums, Neriums, Sparmanniat^, 

 Plumbago capensis, Vallotas, Lachenalias, and some others, may be 

 everybody's plants, they are so easily grown, and all may be had 



