^ 



392 



EDITOR'S TABLE. 



to ki-t'p (ho atmosiihero huiniJ, by a liberal application of water over tlie floor, stagiug, &c. 

 AVattr .siu'li plants as require it, imlividually, early in the morning; shade as the day ad- 

 vances, and use the s^-ringe freely over the foliage, liy attention to these details, and elosing 

 the house partly, at least, keeping front sashes closed, preventing the dry, external air from 

 reacliing the i)lants, a comparatively cool atmosphere can be maintained. During the night, 

 all the air possible may be given, that the i)lants may participate of the lowering of tempe- 

 rature universally conseijuent upon the absence of light. 



Attention must now be directed to the stock of winter flowering plants, such as bouvardias, 

 linensis, heliotropes, cinerarias, Chinese jirimrose, scarlet pelargoniums, coronillas, cytisus, 

 iScc. Shift such as ivquire it into larger pots, and pinch the points of tlie shoots, in order to 

 increase the number of flowering branches. 



PoTTixG. — In removing young growing plants into larger sized pots, the roots should not 

 be disturbed ; indeed, they should be removed before the roots become so numerous as to 

 spread round the sides of the pots. Any check now will throw them prematurely into flower, 

 and thus partly defeat the object in view. For the same reason, watering must be regularly 

 performed. The application of water is the most powerful controlling influence we possess 

 in the artificial culture of plants. By limiting the supply, we can induce a state of rest, 

 hasten tlie development of the flowering principle, and induce maturity of the wood, that 

 will enable them the better to withstand the vicissitudes of winter. 



Mignonette for early winter flowering may now be sown ; prepare well-drained five-inch 

 pots, by filling them with good, turfy soil, rather dry, and firmly pressed ; sow the seeds on 

 the surface, and, instead of covering, simply press them in. Set the pots in the shade, and 

 keep moist ; but be careful in watering after the plants appear, otherwise they will speedily 

 disappear. 



Pelargoniums that have been cut down, will now be making fresh growths ; as soon as 

 these are about a couple of inches in length, the plants should be taken out of the pot, all 

 the soil shaken from the roots, so that they may be pruned, then place them in as small 

 pots as the roots will admit of, and again set them in a sheltered spot to grow. 



Cyclamen. — Water sparingly as they start into growth, and increase the supply as they 

 approach the flowering state. 



A few of the earliest camellias and azaleas may be brought into the house this month. 

 All greenhouse plants that are out of doors, should be gradually brought into a condition 

 of rest. Protect them from heavy rains by throwing them on their sides, if no better means 

 of protection is at hand. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds. — Tlie operations in these departments, at present, 

 are principally of a routine character. In geometrical gardens, the outlines of the beds 

 ought to be kept distinct, and trim the plants when they grow out over the edging. In 

 tying climbing and trailing plants, do not aim at over-neatness ; close tying tends to destroy 

 that gracefulness of disposition which such plants naturally assume when left to themselves. 

 In general, the main stems only will require fastening, allowing the side shoots to take a 

 natural position. 



Many shrubs and plants that are difiicult to raise by cuttings, maybe increased by layers. 

 A layer may be defined as a cutting only partially separated from the plant. The branch is 



bent down to the ground, 

 and, at the bend, a cut is 

 made half through the 

 shoot, cutting upwards for 

 about half an inch. Some 

 plants do as well if the 

 shoot is twisted at the 

 bend ; anything to check 

 the flow of sap will cause a 

 root fonnation. The figure 

 shows the appearance of a 

 layer. The line at 1 repre- 

 sents the surface. At 2, 

 the cut part is shown, and 

 strong branches will require 

 to be kept in place by a 

 stout peg, as here represented. Nearly all plants, even fir-trees, may be increased by this 



