128 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



most probably choked up, and the soil in consequence likely to bocome sour. The 

 principal bulk of the soil should be removed from about the roots of the plants, and 

 a sharp look-out kept for worms to prevent any of them being returned to the 

 case. The ferns will experience no material check. Larger quantities of lime 

 ■water maybe made in the same proportions. 



GrcLAMEN Seed. — 1!. P. S. — The leading cultivators of cyclamens fertilize 

 the flowers from which they are desirous of obtaining seed, with pollen obtained 

 from the flowers of another plant. Care is taken to select plants with the finest 

 flowers only for seed raising, and to take the pollen from flowers equally good. 

 Cyclamens, however, usually produce sufficient seed without artificial fertilization, 

 but the seedlings do not, as a rale, produce flowers of so good a quality as those 

 raised from seeds saved from others that have been fertilized artificially. The plants 

 require no special management to enable them to bring the seed to maturity. They 

 require a rather shady position in the greenhouse or in a pit, from the time they go 

 out of bloom until the seed is ripe, and moderate supplies of water. After the seed 

 is ripe they should be kept rather dry at the roots for a period of six weeks or so, 

 and then be turned out of the pots, the soil removed from about the roots, and be 

 repotted in clean pots, and a fresh compost, and afterwards be placed in a cold 

 frame, until the autumn, when they must be removed to the greenhouse. 



Rose Seed. — Violet. — The best course will be to allow the seed-pod to remain 

 until quite red, and when gathered place it in a seed drawer for two or three 

 weeks. The seed may then be sown thinly in a pan or box, covered lightly with 

 fine soil, and placed in a cold frame. The soil must be maintained in a moderately 

 moist condition onlj', until the young plants make their appearance, because of the 

 risk of the seed decaying from excess of moisture. It will be found a very easy 

 matter to open the pod and separate the seed. The latter will be in no way injured 

 if allowed to remain on the plant some weeks after perfectly ripe. 



Slow Combustion Boileu. — Omega. — Probably the small boiler made byMessrs. 

 Deards, of Harlow, Esses, would suit you. ATe do not expect you will be able to 

 obtain a boiler as small as you appear to require. We should have thought gas 

 •would have been the best for so small a structure, because of ths little attention 

 required to keep the heat up. Of course, the water in the pipes will freeze if an 

 ordinary bailer is employed, in precisely the same manuer as it did when heated by 

 gas, if the fire is not started early enough. Possibly you refer to the freezing of 

 the water in the meter, and not in the hotwater pipes. Messrs. Deards will doubt- 

 kss aflbrd you the fullest particulars in reference to the prices and sizes of tlieir 

 slow combustion boilers. 



Camellias. — C. H. Ji. — There is no quick way of getting rid of the insects 

 •with which the camellias are inlested, a'ld we can only advise you to examine the 

 plants carefully and remove all tlie insects visible with a piece of pointed stick, 

 and then thoroughly wash the plants, leaves and stems, with a sponge and warm 

 water. A little soft-soap or Gishurst compound should be at hand, and the sponge 

 dipped into it as the washing proceeds, but neither of those must be used too ireely, 

 because of the risk of injuring the young growths. It is a tedious task, but there 

 is no other really effectual way <jf cleaning the plants. 



Bedding Geraniums not Flowering. — Amateur. — Bedding geraniums usually 

 bloom most satisfactorily when planted in a sunny situation, and in warm, well- 

 drained soil. On cold, heavy soils it is desirable to dress the beds liberally with light 

 sandy stuff, and to raise them six inches or so ahove the general level of the garden. 

 The sloping sides of the beds can be covered with succulents such as Echeverias, 

 Sempervivums, Mesembryanthemums, Euonymus radicans variegata, or any of 

 the ivy-leaved geraniums — green or variegated leaved. If there is an objection to 

 raise the beds as here suggested, the plants may be plunged in the pots, the rims of 

 the latter to be just covered witli the soil. In moderately light and well-drained 

 soils the plants will, of course, bloom freely, whether the beds are raised or on the 

 level. Strong well-hardened plants struck in the autumn are decidedly preferable, 

 especially for cold soils, as they come into bloom much earlier than those struck 

 in the spring. When it is intended to plunge the plants they should, if the time 

 can be spared, be shifted into five or six-inch pots, a few weeks beforehand. 

 Geraniums after they are well established should not be watered, for artificial 

 wa'erinojs encourage an e'scessive luxuriance, and the plants produce but few 

 flowers in consequence. 



