128 THE GARDENER. [March 



ever do wrong in following up tins where a bed is made new altogether. 

 When old soil is taken out and entirely replaced, we would give one 

 good barrow-load of manure to every three of soil. Attention to 

 planting, soil, and manure makes a vast difference in after-years. Like 

 other things, if carelessly done, it will always want seeing to ; but 

 when well done, there is an end of it. Do not plant deeply but firmly : 

 this is very important. Deep planting ruins the plants ; and when 

 they are loose, they never root well : 3 or 4 inches is quite enough of 

 soil to be over the roots. Never prune before planting. A week or 

 two, or a month after, is much better. Wlien the roots are beginning 

 to lay hold of the soil and the buds are seen to be swelling, but before 

 they come into leaf, is the time to prune. From the time they are 

 planted until they are growing and firm in the soil, they should have 

 the support of a short stake. After planting, should very dry weather 

 set in before the buds are swelled and the flowers open, they will be 

 benefited by a heavy watering ; and if nc plants are growing about to 

 shade the soil, a slight mulching of manure, short grass, or leaves is 

 beneficial. J. MuiR. 



MORGAM. 



THE FLOWER-GARDEN 



The end of this month should see all hardy bedders into their places. 

 It is better for the plants to have them established early ; and it is 

 easier to manage than to leave all plants, irrespective of hardiness, to 

 be put out with the tenderer flower. Just try putting out the quite 

 hardy flowers now — Echeverias, East Lothian Stocks, and Calceolarias 

 in April; Geraniums and other tender bedders early in June, and 

 the very tenderest, as Coleus, a month later, — and you will find how it 

 eases the crush at bedding-out time. Practically there is no " hurry- 

 scurry " at all at any one time. Such a system of planting requires to 

 be arranged beforehand ; but a plan is necessary in any case to get the 

 work done with certainty and speed, and should have been at least 

 roughly prepared the previous autumn. Always remember in propa- 

 gating tender bedders that it is better to leave them till the latest 

 moment, than to strike them slowly and to have the young plants dwind- 

 ling in hothouses. Leave as much of the striking of cuttings there- 

 fore till the end of the month and April. The great majority of our 

 plants pass only thrice through the hand in spring : first, cutting of the 

 slips, then inserting them in boxes where they are struck in a few 

 days, then transplanting them into frames. What a business it used 

 to be when almost every plant, even to the Calceolarias, were potted 

 singly ! What an amount of watering, and what shabby plants after 

 all ! That used to be heaping up work with a vengeance. 



R. P. B. 



