of liural Art and Tade. 



357 



fume out of the flower, and, probably, pinch 

 the foliage. The Czar and King varieties 

 are much hardier than the above sort, and 

 will usually flower well after remaining out 

 all the winter. As soon as frost is gone, 

 for this reason, it would be desirable to plant 

 these extensively in public parks and ceme- 

 teries. 



Cinerarias ami Ciilceolarias must be 

 kept cool, and not allowed to become dry, or the 

 plants will soon be covered with insects. The 

 plants will also become weak and spindling. 

 A gentle fumigating with tobacco each week 

 should be given as a preventive. 



JPel(ir(joui,uniS\y[\l be now growing freely, 

 and will require shifting into the pots in 

 which they are intended to flower. A good 

 loam, with about one-third decayed manure, 

 is a good mixture for these plants. These 

 plants require abundance of air at every 

 favorable time, or they beco)ne lankey and 

 unsightly ; and if not allowed plenty of room, 

 loose the bottom leaves and are only fit to 

 stand among other tall plants, instead of 

 being dwarf and well-furnished specimens, 

 fit to stand alone on their merits. We men- 

 tion this from seeing so many poorly-grown 

 plants of this class in this country. We are 

 aware one cause of the plants being tall and 

 badly furnished at the bottom is caused by 

 the strong fire heat required during the 

 winter months to keep out the severe frosts, 

 combined with a strong sun heat, with fre- 

 quently such cutting winds that the house 

 caijnot be opened suflScient without the 

 plants being frozen ; but by turning off the 

 heat early in the morning, and not turning it 

 on until absolutely necessary, and then only 

 enough to keep the house at 40*^', the mischief 

 may be prevented to a great extent. But 

 where a number of plants are obliged to be 

 kept in same hous,e, many of them requiring a 

 higher temperature, the only way is to keep 

 the Pelargoniums at the coolest part of the 

 house. The fancy varieties will grow in more 

 heat than the tall-growing varieties, and not 

 suffer. In fact, cuttings of these, rooted in 

 January and grown in a warm house, will 

 make very handsome bushes in six and seven- 



inch pots, to flower in May. A few short 

 stakes placed round the plants, and the shoots 

 tied well down, will cause them to throw a 

 number of shoots from the center of plant, 

 and they will make fine dwarf bushes. 



Scarfef and Zoiiale Oeratihinis must 

 be looked over occasionally, and dead leaves 

 removed, xiny varieties of which the stock 

 is short can be propagated at this time if 

 more are required. It is best to grow a few 

 good kinds, which grow and flower well, in 

 preference to a large number, many of which 

 are sure to prove unsatisfactory. With the 

 new sorts, this can only be proved by a trial ; 

 but the best florists now plant out a number 

 of plants each year, including all the best 

 novelties, so that buyers can see each variety 

 growing, and judge for themselves. Of course, 

 the first year there is nothing but the raiser's 

 recommendation. An allowance must be 

 made for each raiser thinking their own 

 darling the most perfect. 



Balhs, — The earliest will be now coming 

 in flower. Grive an occasional dose of weak 

 manure water ; it increases the size of the 

 flowers, and also the color. Place a few more 

 in heat to succeed the early bloomers. Re- 

 move them from the plunging material before 

 the tops become drawn up. This is especially 

 necessary with Narcissus and Jonquils, which 

 commence to grow very early. These plants 

 will keep well in any place just protected 

 from frost. Bulbs are very useful for window 

 and room plants. 



Ct/chnneiis w'ill now be growing freely, 

 and commencing to flower. Mark and select 

 those plants with the most handsome foliage 

 and the freest blooms — there being much dif- 

 ference in this respect — for, although all are 

 worth growing, some are quite worth growing 

 for their beautiful marbled foliage, and others 

 are freer in regard to flower, and more desira- 

 ble in color. They also vary much in per- 

 fume ; some being nearly scentless. We may 

 add, that some strains of Cyclamens in this 

 country are superior to the best average kinds 

 grown in Europe. This we have tested by 

 grov/ing selections from each. The plants 

 will now require more water ; but be careful 



