1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 551 



trained neatly to wires or wooden rails uprightly, and about 8 inches 

 apart, more or less according to the strength of canes. If the canes 

 are strong, they may be allowed to stand 5 feet high or more. The 

 kinds said to be double-bearing are only worthy of the name from 

 liberal treatment and suitable soil — cool, moist, rich, and deep. "We 

 often get Fastolf in quantities till frost takes them : some have been 

 hanging till lately. 



Valuable plants which are in the open ground and not quite hardy 

 should have timely attention with protecting material, as formerly 

 advised, and if the roots can be kept rather dry, so much the better. 

 Roses now require a little protection over their roots and round their 

 collars — some nice rotten dung placed over the surface of the beds, 

 then a little dry litter, answers well, and it can be forked in 

 after the plants are pruned. Newly-planted Roses are most likely 

 to suffer from severe weather. All hardy plants in frames, such as 

 Auriculas, Pansies, Carnations, &c, require careful attention with air, 

 light, water, and cleanliness. Water should never be given except 

 when really necessary. Glass lights should be clean, and in good 

 repair. Confined damp air at this season is a great enemy to all 

 plants. Bedding-plants of all kinds are impatient of confined damp 

 and absence of light and fresh air. Water should be given to the roots 

 with a small-spouted pot, and no water spilt which can be avoided. 

 The Heath tribe and many other hardwooded plants are often de- 

 stroyed for want of air, and from water being given to moisten the 

 necks of the plants, instead of their roots near the bottom of the pots. 

 Camellia-buds often fall, and bad watering, in some shape, is often the 

 cause. If drainage is out of order, the buds are sure to fall before 

 they expand ; but "dribblings" of water given to the upper portion of 

 the roots, and the principal ones lower down in the pots being allowed 

 to suffer from drought, is a very general cause of the flower-buds 

 dropping. When they come into bloom, weak manure-water may be 

 given liberally. A number of very old plants here have been im- 

 proved much of late years by our taking the hint from a young 

 neighbour, that manure-water supplied throughout the whole of the year 

 to the starved roots would improve them, and so it has unmistakably. 

 Formerly, fresh surfacings of sheep -dung were given twice yearly, 

 and manure-water allowed only at the flowering and growing season. 

 Large tubs and good soil are what they really want. There are plenty of 

 cut flowers had from October to April. Camellia-roots in plenty of 

 rich soil would be ruined with much manure-water. Soot and sheep- 

 dung, well mixed, make excellent manure - water, and it should be 

 given clear and weak. Well-washed foliage is of great importance, 

 and the same applies to Orange-trees. M. T. 



