DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



hands of tlie original growers or raisers of them ; 

 whilst you will get them here for a dollar each, 

 when they come over and are propagated here 

 in the spring by the importer. 



Hollyhocks. — A Gardener. "We have no 

 doubt, if you grow these from seed, you will 

 raise both new and desirable varieties, but you 

 should plant a dozen plants of opposite colors 

 together in a bed ; and next year cross impreg- 

 nate them , and from that seed you may expect 

 better flowers, than from what you buy in the 

 seed stores. 



Geraniums. — Frederick S. If you wish j'our 

 specimen Geranium plants to blow as early as 

 the first week in May, you should put them 

 in their blooming pots in December, and not 

 stop them afterwards. Those you do not wish 

 to bloom till June, you may keep in small pots 

 through the winter, and re-pot the end of Jan- 

 uary. In either case, be sparing of water till 

 February. 



Calceolaria. — T. E. The seed may still 

 be sown, but it would have been better, had 

 you put it in a month ago or so. 



PiTTOSPORUM. — Edward. The common va- 

 riety that you allude to, will live through the 

 winter, in a frame covered with shutters over 

 the glass, if it is not very damp. 



"Winter Bulbs. — W. T. The earliest bulbs 

 you can get into bloom, are the double roman 

 and paper white Karcissus, and Van Thol tu- 

 lips; and these j'ou may grow in a room. — 

 Lachenalia tri-color, and Hyacinths, you may 

 have to follow them. 



Polygala. — G. You have been keeping this 

 too wet, which is the reason the stems turn 

 yellow. It is a fine green-house plant, but not 

 desirable for your conservatory, which you 

 wish to .«how well in the evening by lamp-light, 

 because the flowers become inconspicuous. On 

 the other hand, you will flnd Epacrisimpressa, 

 much more showy at night than in the day, in 

 that situation. 



Pear Tree. — I. S. Cut back this winter a 

 considerable length, say one-third of every one 

 of tlie large branches of your old tree, and 

 then put ininu'diately a load or two of stable 

 manure round it ; not close to the stem, but in 

 ; of the diameter that the head of the 

 before you cut it back. Next year you 



will have fine young wood, and the following 

 year fine fruit. We have practiced this with 

 the greatest success on very old trees. In the 

 spring just turn in the manure or cover it with 

 earth. 



NiGHT-scENTED Stock. — Jas. Spark. We 

 have not seen that delightfully sweet plant, 

 " Matheola tristis," or night-scented stock, for 

 years. In a visit to England we found it in al- 

 most every green-house. On referring to three 

 or four catalogues of our best growers, we do 

 not see it. Can any of our correspondents in- 

 form us where it is to be met with? Its fra- 

 grance in the evening is most exquisite, and it 

 is of the easiest culture. 



Tuberoses. — Silas C. "When you take up 

 your tuberoses, diy them thoroughly in a green- 

 house or window exposed to the sun, before 

 you put them away. We have no doubt you 

 did not attend to this last year, or else you kept 

 them in a damp place. 



Rhubarb. — James. If you put large roots 

 into good garden soil, under the stage of your 

 green-house, and cover their crowns over with 

 old boxes or large flower pots, you will have 

 rhubarb early in the year, long before you can 

 get it out of doors, and much better also for 

 pies. 



Franciscea. — C. 0. T. There are several 

 varieties; the old Franciscea Hopeana, although 

 generally treated as a hot-house plant, will bear 

 a cold gi-een-house, from which frost is exclud- 

 ed ; in that situation it will do very well, and 

 give its fragrant bloom all the summer, but it 

 must be kept very dry in winter. 



Double Primrose. — T. B. Your primrose 

 and polyanthus will winter much better in 

 frames, than they would in your green-house. 

 Doubtless if you have kept them in the latter it 

 has been too waini for them. But the frames 

 should be well covered in severe frost. 



Insects in Hot- house. — E. B. By no means 

 veture to syringe the plants with the liquid re- 

 commended to you. "We never heard of the 

 one you name; but we well remember seeing a 

 house of fine plants, some years ago, burnt up 

 by being syringed with a liquid, which the un- 

 fortunate gardener had been recommended by 

 •''a friend;" and which wc found, on ccamina 

 tion, to be a weak mixture of muriatic acid 

 water. 



