THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 63 



the ('rowing points, and that will cause them to break and fovm nice round heads. 

 If you have a plant sufficiently hiffh already, you can cut it down at once — any 

 time from February to the end of September will do ; and as soon as the plant has 

 broken, and the younp; shoots are about a couple of inches in length, take it out of 

 the pot, reduce the ball, and repot in one a size smaller. Use good fibry loam and 

 peat and leaf-mould in equal parts, with tlie addition of a good sprinkling of silver- 

 sand. We like young plants with fine large foliage drooping over the sides of the 

 pots. Standard specimens look very well in large stoves, but they are quite out of 

 place in small collections. 



Figs DKorriNO. — Young Gardener. — We expect the cause is neglect to keep 

 the tree properly watered. We do not wonder at a few things suffering in such a 

 dry summer as that of IST-t- Too much water will cause the fruit to drop, but as 

 the fig-tree, when in full growth, requires such a plentiful supply, we should hardly 

 think that it has had too much. A deficiency in the air-supply through the summer 

 is very prejudicial to the proper maturation of the fruit crop. To guard against 

 losing any of the fruit through dropping off prematurely in future seasons, pay 

 close attention to the roots. Keep them well watered, but without soddening the 

 Soil, and give plenty of air whenever the weatber will admit of its being done without 

 cliillmg the foliage. Regulate the admission of this element according to the 

 weatlier, but contrive to give a little at all times when the trees are in full growth. 



Fuchsia fulgens. — Inquirer. — Fuchsia fulgens will grow freely enough in 

 good loam and leaf-mould, with a little sand. The plants should not be over- 

 potted, or you will get too much foliage and k-w blooms. Keep them well watered 

 when growing, and after they have done flowering harden well off. They should 

 not be cut in too hard, as that would encourage tho production of too strong-growing 

 shoots. The plants require syringing to keep down thrip and red-spider, in much 

 the same manner as other fuchsias. This grand old fuchsia is admirably adapted 

 for windows. 



Culture of Daphne indic.a.. — J.C. — This fragrant flowering plant requires 

 the protection of a greenhouse through the autumn, winter, and spring. In the 

 summer it should be placed out of doors along with the other hard-wooded plants. 

 To keep the plants bushy, pinch or cijt back directly they have done flowering, and 

 let them make the new growth with plenty of light and air, to prevent its being 

 weak and spindly. Unless the wood is strong and stocky, very few flowers can be 

 expected. You will find your plants grow freely in good fibry loam and peat, two 

 parts of the latter to one of the former, mixed with a liberal proportion of silvor- 

 sand. The pots must he well drained, and tlie jilants have plenty of water wlien 

 grov/ing in the spring. During the remaining part of the time the soil must have no 

 more water than is sufficient to keep it in a healthy growing condition, neither too 

 wet nor too diy. Well established plants usually produce short jointed shoots, and 

 do not require any stopping. 



Ivies. — W. C, Wallhiffford. — You will be able to obtain the ivies and 

 polyanthuses from Mr. Charles Turner, Eoyal Nurseries, Slough. 



OsMUNDA. — No. 1 is Gaidtheria Shallon, and No. 2 Spircea ariafolia. 



Injured RosE-xitEE. — Fothergill. — The best course will be to prune the injured 

 shoots back to a few inches below the wounds. The wallflowers may be cut back 

 in the spring. 



Petherwyn. — We value our time too highly to name thirty ferns for you. Our 

 only course, when such a parcel comes to hand, is not to look at its contents. 



Miss J. L. M. J. — ^The sand of which you sent a sample is not suitable for mixing 

 with composts prepared for pot plants, and river sand will be in every -way prefer- 

 able. We cannot give the name of the rose from the leaves. Under the circum- 

 stances, the best course will perhaps bo to have the ground dug up by a farm 

 labourer, and to call in the aid cf a strong giil to do the weeding and other light 

 work durinc the summer season. The advice contained in the articles on vegetable 

 culture the first of which appears this month, will, doubtless, be found of con- 

 siderable service in cropping the kitchen-garden. The Hesperoscordum lacteum 

 will thrive in any light soil, and is quite hardy. Gelasine azurea, also, succeeds 

 most satisfactorily in a light warm soil. 



Substitute foh Peat. — Flower Frenzy will find it an easy task to prepare a 

 substitute for peat for some purposes ; but heaths, and indeed hard-wooded plants 



Fcbraarj. 



