1879.1 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



295 



Green House and House Gardening, 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



The great anxiety at this time will be to pre- 

 serve those things that have been growing in 

 the open ground during Summer, for, though 

 when they were set out we had no thought of 

 anything more than Summer decoration, we hate 

 to let things go to destruction that have aftbrd- 

 ed us so much pleasure. The feeling is com- 

 mendable, and yet it is to be kept in check or 

 we overburden ourselves with material which 

 becomes a tax on time and space to care for. 

 Still there are always some to be lifted, and 

 those who have not the advantage of profes- 

 sional gardeners to assist them, may find a few 

 hints serviceable to them. 



In taking up things from the ground for pot- 

 ting, care should be taken to have the pots well 

 drained, with pieces of potsherds over the hole. 

 The more rapidly water passes through the soil 

 the better plants will grow. Pots could be made 

 without holes, and the water w^ould all go 

 through the porous sides in time ; but that is too 

 slow a way, so we make a hole to admit of its 

 more rapid escape, and we place the broken pots 

 over the hole to make a vacuum, which assists 

 the objects of the hole. In very small pots, or 

 with plants which have strong enough roots to 

 rapidly absorb all the moisture they get, and 

 speedily ask for more, " crocking " is not 

 necessary. 



For potting plants the soil should be as dry as 

 possible. So dry that it will crumble readily 

 when pinched by the finger and thumb ; and it 

 should be pounded in about the side of the pot 

 without mercy. When the pot is large, there 

 will be danger of breaking the pot by the proper 

 punching of the soil about the plant, if there is 

 any flaw in the pot. For this, reasonably good 

 gardeners protect large pots by a piece of wire 

 under the rim. 



After potting, the plants should be well water- 

 ed and kept in the shade for a few days. If they 

 still show signs of keeping a wilted appearance 

 long, it may be as well to pick otf a few of the 

 leaves. Some things of not too fender a nature 

 can be kept in cellars for Spring. The bedding 



geraniums are often treated in this way. The 

 leaves and softer parts are cut away, the whole 

 tied in bunches, and hung up. At times the cel- 

 lar is rather dry for this, and then some moss is 

 packed in among the roots and kept a little 

 damp. 



Hanging-baskets which have been in piazzas 

 or under trees all Summer will need to be taken 

 to the parlors soon. Many take out and reset 

 at this season under an impression that the soil 

 is exhausted; but a much better vvay is to let 

 them alone and sprinkle a little very well de- 

 cayed manure among thoni. 



There are but few thiuiis in the greenhouse 

 that will require special treatment at this time. 

 Camellias and Azaleas, as they cease to grow, 

 will require less water ; but it is now so well 

 known that moisture is favorable to growth, and 

 comparative dryness favorable to flowering, that 

 we need do no more than refer to the fact. 



Bulbs for flowering in pots should be placed 

 at once. Four or five-inch pots are suitable. 

 One Hyacinth and about three Tulii)S are suffi- 

 cient for each. After potting, plunge the pots 

 over their rims in sand under the greenhouse 

 stage, letting them remain ther^ until the pots 

 have become well filled with roots, before brin 

 ing them on to the shelves to force. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



TUBEROUS-ROOTED BEGONIAS. 



BY MKS. R. B. E., MELROSE, MASS. 



I desire to recommend, through the Monthly, 

 these tuberous-rooted Begonias to all lovers of 

 nice flowers. I have grown them for the first 

 time this season, and am altogether delighted 

 with them. I had been interested in them be- 

 fore, but authorities differing so widely as to their 

 adaptation for summer bedding purposes, as well 

 as the high prices at which they were generally 

 held by dealers, made me hesitate about experi- 

 menting with them. But in reading the adver- 

 tisements—I always read advertisements — in the 

 Gardener's Monthly for February, 1879, I 

 found that Daniel Barker, of Norfolk, Va., 



