IGO THE GARDENER. [April 



ward; when fit to handle they do well pricked out in a frame or 

 under handlights, keej^ing them covered up from frost. Light soil is 

 necessary for getting up the seedlings strong for planting out ; more 

 seed may be sown for succession. Dahlias may still be divided, and 

 young shoots with heels attached placed in small pots of sandy 

 soil. If Dahlias are grown on steadily to good-sized plants in large 

 pots, they may be planted out in June, coming into bloom soon 

 after. The usual way of growing them for a few weeks' bloom in 

 autumn lessens their value to a great extent. Carnations and Pico- 

 tees to be grown and flowered in pots will require careful attention 

 with water, and shifting into larger-sized pots when roots are plentiful ; 

 thorough drainage is very important. Those to be planted out may 

 be placed in their quarters soon; well-prepared soil, tolerably rich and 

 sandy, suits them. Grubs soon find them out, and when established 

 in the soil are difficult to get rid of. Auriculas may require shading 

 from sun ; weakly flower-stems may be taken off" to do justice to 

 the principal flowers ; abundance of fresh air and careful watering are 

 their chief requirements at present ; worms in their pots, or any 

 pots, are to be avoided. Chrysanthemums will now require attention, 

 keeping them growing steadily without any check, topping in the 

 growths as they require it. tShift to larger pots those which are 

 filling their present pots with roots; liberal supplies of water will 

 be required in proportion to the roots which are to consume it, and a 

 check will cause naked stems, and the pots will not be covered 

 with large healthy foliage, so necessary to a well-grown Chrysan- 

 themum. We have a paper sent us by one who grew some of the 

 most extraordinary specimens ever seen in the west of England, but 

 as there seems nothing in the treatment which has not been indorsed 

 by others writing of their practice, we need not insert it here. The 

 substance of the treatment is — the plants were propagated in April, 

 kept growing steadily, carefully avoiding any check from any cause, 

 plunging the pots in a southerly position, choosing the coolest clay- 

 ground at command, and making holes in it to fit each pot into, and 

 giving abundance of manure-water after the buds were set for flowering. 

 Those grown in the open ground may have similar attention. Liliums 

 will now be making growth. They require plenty of light and air. 

 Any which may be wanted for late flowering can be kept in a shady 

 position. We put a dozen or two out in a cool position, plunged 

 in gravel through the summer. They come in useful in October 

 and November. Hard -wooded plants will now require plenty of 

 fresh air, and to be kept free from stagnant moisture. Water them 

 so that every particle of soil is moistened — dribblings are to be 

 strictly avoided. Insects, on growing soft-wooded plants, must be 



