THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 95 



tion of plants Bhould now be commenced, either by buds, cuttings, layers, or 

 division of plants. Carefully examine all the plants, as many will require repot- 

 ting. Dahlias at work will require to be potted. Hydrangeas may be increased 

 by cuttings, which should be the tops of any shoots that have very plump leading 

 bulbs about one inch, below the bud of each cutting. They should be inserted 

 each in a small pot, and placed in a moist heat, when they will soon strike and 

 with proper management form one fine head, each strikingly beautiful. Camellias 

 done blooming should be immediately repotted, for if allowed to push the least 

 before this is done, the operation frequently kills the tender shoots. Bedding 

 plants should be kept warm and have little air. When the bright weather comes 

 they may be more freely ventilated, to harden the wood and check their growth. 

 Geraniums that have been kept in pits, windows, and cool houses, in a rather dry 

 state, now require pruning and a little water. 



STOVE. 



As the sun now will be having some effect, the temperature may be in- 

 creased to about 60 Q at night, to 70° or 75° during the day. Every opportunity 

 should be taken to give air in abundance, but take care of cold draughts. An 

 increase of water must be given as the plants inorease in growth, but do not supply 

 it to excess. To those plants making rapid growth some stimulus may be given in 

 the shape of liquid manure, but take care that it is not too strong. The atmo- 

 sphere of the house should be kept humid, by syringing the plants and sprinkling 

 the paths with tepid water. Look well after insects, and destroy them upon their 

 first appearance. 



PITS AND FEAMES. 



Auriculas will now be growing, and should have frequent supplies of water 

 and abundance of air when there is no frost. All secondary trusses should be 

 removed, and the pips in the trusses left should be thinned to eight in number, 

 taking care to remove those that are ill placed. Melons will require consider- 

 able attention to set the blooms, and to train the vines and check superabundant 

 growth. Cucumbers must also be regulated very carefully, giving but little 

 water during dull weather, and the laterals stopped above the second joint. Thin 

 the crop in time if fine fruit are required, but where produce is more important 

 than size and beauty, they may be allowed to bear all that set, and they will be 

 sooner over for succession plants. A brisker heat may now be encouraged be 

 the use of fresh linings ; but with the increase of heat vermin will abounofif not 

 looked well after, and fumigation immediately effected. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



PrErs Japokica.— W. J. Clapham — This is increased by layers. It may 

 also be worked on thorn stocks. The layers are put down in September in the 

 usual way, and are allowed to remain till the September following, when they are 

 taken off and planted in nursery rows until strong enough to be removed to the 

 places they are intended to decorate. It will grow in any good loamy soil or 

 clay, and inake3 a very beautiful bush or standard. But the best situation for 

 it is a dwarf wall. 



T. Wood, Essex. — You will find the information you seek in Mr. Hibberd's 

 book, " The Amateur's Greenhouse," price 6"s. ; any bookseller will procure it 

 for you. 



Koses. — M. Meredith. — Your roses have been attacked by mining caterpillars. 

 It is impossible to do uuy thing now to prevent an attack in the forthcoming 

 season. But by constant watching you may bo able to arrest the progress of the 

 enemy when he next makes his appearance, and there is no other way but to 

 catch and kill. 



Ouanoe Teees. — IS. Oourjh. — You may repot the orange trees now, usiog 

 strong turfy loam with about a fourth part of fat manure. The orange requires 

 liberal cultivation, and there is not the leaBt occasion for grafting trees raised 

 March. 



