i88i.] THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 501 



As soon as they are sown, give a good watering through a fine-rosed 

 watering-pot, and place the pots or pans containing tliem in a bottom- 

 heat as above indicated, and cover them with a bell-glass. In a 

 short time the young plants will appear, and as soon as they are fit 

 to handle, pot them separately into small pots, draining the latter 

 in a proper way, and using a compost similar to that in which the 

 seeds were sown. When the young plants have got their first shift from 

 the seed-pan, give them a good watering, and place them near to the 

 glass in a frame or pit, keeping the latter moist and the plants shaded 

 until their roots have taken hold of the fresh soil, which will be in a 

 few daj'^s. The shading should then be removed, and except in the 

 case of very bright sunshine, it need not be again applied. A constant 

 supply of fresh air should play about the plants during the summer 

 and autumn, and they should not at any season be allowed to suffer 

 for want of water at their roots. 



If Acacias at any time get over dry at the roots, the foliage on the 

 lower parts of the plants turns yellow and falls off, thereby destroying 

 their beauty. Repotting should take place the first year as often as 

 the plants fill their pots with roots. It is not, how^ever, desirable to 

 continue the process after the first week of September ; and by this 

 time, if all has got on right, many of the plants raised from seed in 

 the spring will be of a useful size for taking part in the general decora- 

 tion of the establishment. 



The second and future years once will be often enough to repot 

 the plants, and this should be done early in spring. When repotting 

 large plants of Acacias, use for a compost the best sandy loam pro- 

 curable, adding thereto at the time a good sprinkling of bone-meal. 

 Supply good drainage, and make the fresh compost firm in the pots 

 when the plants are repotted. An occasional application of manure- 

 w^ater during the summer season to the roots is beneficial to Acacias, 

 especially if they have their pots filled with roots, which is generally 

 the case w^hen the plants are large. During the summer season give 

 them a thorough washing occasionally with the syringe or water- 

 engine. This will keep red-spider and thrip under subjection, and 

 otherwise be of benefit to the plants. 



If green-fly appear, fumigate in the usual way ; and if brown-scale 

 or mealy-bug infest the plants, use the latter for fuel, and set about 

 raising a fresh stock of plants from seed. J. Hammond. 



THE FLOWER-GARDElSr. — A REVIE"W, WITH 

 SUGGESTIONS. 



In those gardens where the old-fashioned style of bedding alone is 

 carried out, the season just past will have been a rather disappointing 

 one. In our own case we planted out extra-strong flowering plants of 



