iSyi.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 77 



manure-water or other feeding ever seems to cause rank growth. The 

 gross-growing Castle Kennedy and Brunswick are as sturdy by this 

 treatment as Brown Turkeys and Black Ischias. Some cover 25 feet 

 of a high wall, others only 6 feet, but are equally serviceable. If cut- 

 tings of bush-fruits are to be made, they should be shortened to 1 foot 

 or 14: inches long, and cut clean under a joint : strip off with a sharp 

 knife all the buds except three at top, and place the lower ends firmly 

 in rows to form bushes. Trampled ground, whether among trees or 

 flowering-shrubs, should be well forked up, keeping clear of the roots. 

 This will let in air, and leave a tidy appearance where tying, &c. are 

 finished. If covering such as canvas or frigidoma is used for protect- 

 ing fruit-blossoms, it should be got ready for use ; much more good 

 can be done by keeping sun from bringing on the rtower-buds too early, 

 than by keeping them back after they are out. 



Every part of the ornamental garden should now be clean and fresh ; 

 and where winter and spring gardening are practised, all the plants 

 should be kept free from decaying leaves, the ground well stirred and 

 free from weeds. Roll lawns after rain, top-dress them where grass is 

 thin and weakly ; a little good soil and manure well mixed with fresh 

 lime may be added if moss is abundant and objected to. By a few 

 moss is encouraged, but it is seldom satisfactory. Grass-seeds may 

 remain unsown till April; all flower-beds which have been turned up 

 to sweeten by frost, &c., may be (at any time when dry) turned over 

 and well broken with a fork. This is very essential to heavy soils. 



Ranunculuses for early summer flowering should be planted soon ; 

 to grow them well they require good rich loam. As they like a cool 

 bottom, cowdung is a most suitable manure. They are generally 

 planted in drills of equal depth, and the roots covered with 2 inches 

 of soil ; 6 inches apart is enough. All bulbs planted out, however 

 hardy, are the better of protection in severe weather. Spruce branches 

 or coal-ashes are less unsightly than many other kinds of material 

 used. All hardy plants in frames, such as Pinks, Pansies, &c., must have 

 air on every favourable opportunity; confined damp is very destructive. 

 Good rich loam, well examined for wire-worm, should now be un- 

 der cover, to be in order to pot Carnations and Picotees where they are 

 grown as pot plants. Auriculas with their pots well filled with roots 

 may be fresh surfaced with rich stuff, first clearing off the wasted soil 

 without injuring the roots. Clear drainage is of great importance to 

 that tribe of plants. Some kinds of Roses may be pruned soon, 

 such as Moss, Summer, and China : the latter should only be thinned, 

 and very little shortening attempted. Liliums, if not already done, 

 should be potted, using good loam and a little sand. Dahlias to be 

 increased may be placed in warmth, so that shoots may sprout from the 



