30 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



They germinate soonest by placing the pots in September in a 

 temperature of about 50°, taking care to keep tbe soil well supplied 

 with water. If well looked after during winter they will be nice 

 little plants towards April, and may be potted singly in 5 -inch pots, 

 taking care not to injure the roots in separating the plants. They 

 should be placed in a close, shady situation until established in their 

 pots, and then set in a light, airy part of the greenhouse. When 

 the weather becomes warm and settled, they may be planted in 

 raised beds of prepared soil on a warm border, and during summer 

 will require no further attention than an occasional watering in case 

 of the soil getting dry, which, however, will seldom occur. In 

 September take them up with as little injury as possible to the 

 roots, and treat them during the winter and spring as recommended 

 for old plants. If managed in the same manner the second summer 

 they will be good-sized bulbs, and will afford an abundance of 

 blossoms the following winter. 



Two parts fresh, turfy, friable loam, to one of turfy peat or 

 decayed leaves, with a liberal mixture of sharp sand, form a suitable 

 compost for the cyclamen. 



THE GARDEN GUIDE FOR JANUARY. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



I NT bulbs not yet planted must be got in at once. Tulips and hyacinths 

 should be kept from frost if possible, though the bulbs are perfectly 

 hardy, yet the flower is likely to be injured by severe frosts, but they 

 yBfroVjll should have as much air as possible. Make banKs and rockeries. 

 Plant roses, and mulch those already planted with half-rotten dung. 

 Lawns to be attended to, and if bare should be treated to a liberal sowing of good 

 seed. Pansies and polyanthuses will need some protection, and see that they are 

 firmly planted in the soil. If not already done, all established plantations should 

 have a heavy mulch of half-rotten dung. Should the weather be mild, hollyhocks 

 may be planted and seed now sown in beat will flower this year, but do not force 

 the young plants too fast. Gravel walks may now be turned. In doing this do not 

 disturb the rough stuff underneath. If the walk has been properly made, there 

 should be a sufficient depth of fine gravel on the surface to admit of it being turned 

 without interfering with the rougher gravel beneath. Walks properly turned can 

 be cleared and kept in good condition for a considerable time. Every cultivator of 

 flowers should secure now a good supply of turf from a loamy pasture, and of bog 

 peat, or silky yellow loam, in which the common brake grows plentifully. Stack 

 these in high ridges, like walls, so that the frost shall penetrate the whole mass, and 

 the ^rass will rot quickly. All work requiring the barrow should be done during 

 frosty weather, to avoid injury to the walks. Turn over the compost heaps, to let 

 the frost through them ; it will destroy vermin and pulverize the stuff. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Any vacant plots from which the crops have been removed should now be ridged 

 up, so that they may have the benefit of frost. During frost wheel manure on to 

 plots intended for spring crops. Put a heap of half-rotten dung over every stool of 

 rhubarb, and put the pots over those stools intended for forcing, and cover all up 

 with horse-dung, to get a supply of early shoots. Asparagus, seakale, and rhubarb 

 may all be forced in an ordinary hotbed in the following manner : cover the dung 

 with four inches of soil, and take up a lot of strong roots, and put them in pretty 

 close together and cover with leaves, and you will soon have a supply. Asparagus 



