i87i.] 



CALENDAR. 



91 



already attended their efforts, and they cannot but hope that an vindertaking so 

 auspioiously commenced will be carried on with energy and vigour. They have 

 long felt that the flowers which they specially desire to encourage have not of 

 late years received that attention which they merited, and that the complaints 

 made of the decline of the taste for Florists' Flowers were only so far true in that 

 they were not brought forward as in former days, and that it needed only liberal 

 encouragement to show that they were still as much in favour as ever. isTo flower 

 had, for example, been more persistently run down than the Dahlia, as if it were 

 now utterly out of date, yet few who saw it will readily forget the wonderful sight 

 of upwards of two thousand blooms exhibited at their show at the Crystal Palace ; 

 and if the eSbrts of the Committee be only seconded, as they hope to see them, 

 they anticipate a complete revival of Floriculture properly so called. 



" Their movements for the ensuing year must depend greatly on the amount of 

 support they obtain ; it is their wish not only to hold the Autumn Show at the 

 Crystal Palace, but also to offer prizes for the other flowers named in their pro- 

 spectus at some of the metropolitan exhibitions, and they therefore earnestly 

 appeal to all lovers of Florists' Flowers to support them : they have already 

 received numerous promises of aid, and will be glad to receive the names of any 

 gentlemen who may wish to become members, and also any ofi'er of special prizes, 

 as has already been done in the case of Dahlias." 



[We have pleasure in publishing this report, and in indicating the prospective 

 operations of the Society. We wish it all success in reviving a, taste for these 

 grand Florists' Flowers, — Ed.] 



©aUnftar* 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



The present season will bring its own 

 labour, even although every attention 

 has been given during the last few 

 months to forward all manner of ground- 

 work. The cultivator whose aim is 

 success will for some time be fully 

 occupied. Where a little attention to 

 protecting early-sown seeds is no objec- 

 tion, and turf -pits or other contrivances 

 are not at command, a border sheltered 

 and exposed to sun may be prepared 

 for a few early crops, such as Horn 

 Carrots, Radishes, Round Spinach (this 

 crop is often sown between Early Peas), 

 and Bath Cos Lettuce. However, a 

 box sown with the latter will go a far 

 way if it can have a position in an airy 

 glass structure, with plenty of light and 

 no check given. When the soil is dry and 

 well worked, shallow drills will answer 

 well for sowing the seed in; old dry soil, 

 for covering small seeds, is of great 

 advantage. The seed, though ever so 

 good, may be sown more thickly now 

 than later in the season, but not to 



come up matted. Red-lead will keep 

 birds in check : it requires to be thinly 

 dusted over the seeds before covering 

 them. If there are no south bor- 

 ders, a ridge sloping to the sun is a 

 good substitute. Xewlj'-sowu seeds, 

 which do not stand frost well, may be 

 covered, till growth appears, with straw, 

 fern, or any dry material, and kept in 

 its place with branches, or ties and 

 pegs. The labour of covering and un- 

 covering is the principal barrier to early 

 seed-sowing. Peas may be sown twice 

 in the month, if demand requires. For 

 second sowing Dickson's Favourite is one 

 of the best. Some prefer them sown 

 only 4 feet apart in the rows ; others &ow 

 them widely, and use the ground be- 

 tween for the main sowings of small 

 seeds. The rows of Peas, when stak- 

 ed, give good shelter. Any coming 

 through the ground should be staked 

 at once, and cold frosty winds will be 

 less severe on the young tops. Mice 

 will now be on the alert, and two of 



