THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 157 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



J. C. J. — Tlie El^inburgh firms referred to as having raised bedding violas of 

 p:reat merit, were Me-srs. Dickson and Son, 32, South Hanover Street, and Mr. 

 Downie, 17, South Frederick Street. 



S. T. J. — You might grow ivies and ferns on the objectionable space of ground 

 in the greenhouse, if jou would first make a low rockery with burrs or stones and 

 sandy peat soil. If you plant them on the level, the drip will prub ibly kill them 

 or prevent healthy growth; but if raised one, two, or three feet (the higher the 

 better) they will improve the appearance of the house immensely. 



Pkimulas. — K. V. — The plants liave excessively long flower stems through 

 their being crowded up with other things, or owing to their being placed too far 

 from the glass. If the plants are grown in a pit near the ghiss in the early part of 

 the season, and when coming into bloom placed on a stage or shelf, from one to two 

 feet from the glass, the flower stems will be strong, and the trusses of bloom just 

 above the foliage. It is good practice to sow the seed early, to afford time for the 

 plants to be grown to their proper size without being pushed on in a temperature in 

 excess of their requirements. 



Palms. — }F. J". Frost. — The tips of the leaflets will assume a yellowish 

 appearance when the plants are kept too dr}' at the roots, and also when the soil 

 has become sour from an excess of moisture. The leaves of species requiring 

 stove temperature change colour in precisely the same manner when they are kept 

 for some time in a cool house. We can only advise you to supply them carefully 

 ■with water ; they require rather liberal supplies, but overmuch moisture will cause 

 the soil to turn sour, and when this occurs the roots perish. Palms do not require a 

 very moist atmosphere, unless they are in a very high temperature. Ifyouwereto 

 give us the names of the kinds grown, we could tell you whether they are suitable 

 for the greenhouse, or whether they require a higher temperature. If, on examina- 

 tion, it is found that the soil is in a sour state, and the roots are in an unhealthy 

 condition, turn the plants out of the pots, remove as much of the soil as possible 

 without disturbing the roots too much, then cut away the decayed roots, and repot 

 in clean pots with a mixture of turfy loam and peat in about equal parts, and a 

 good sprinkling of silver sand. Tlie roots must be disturbed as little as possible, 

 for palms suffer severely when the roots are unnecessarily interfered with. 



British Fern's.^I*. T. P. — The following seven, in addition to those you haA'e 

 already in your collection, can be strongly recommended for exhibition purposes — 

 namely, Afhyrium fitix-famina corymbiferum, a moderately robust variety ; the 

 fronds from eighteen to twenty inclies high, and surmounted with a dense crest 

 several inches in width. Lastrea filix mas grandiceps, a strong grower, with 

 beautifully crested fronds. Polystichwn annulare grandiceps, a tall strong-growing 

 variety, tlie fronds beautifully crested ; very distinct and handsome. P. a. proli- 

 ferum Wollastoni, a robust and exceedingly elegant form ; the fronds range from 

 two to three feet in length, and from sis to eight inches in breadth, according to 

 the size and vigour of the specimens. The Scolopendrium vidgare digitatum and 

 S. V. ramo-marginatum are both exceedingly good. Asplenittm marinum is very 

 distinct and remarkably beautiful, and, when well grown, makes a good specimen, 

 and is useful in affording a greatt-r variety in a collection. 



Polyanthuses in Pots. — B. B. — I'he luced polyanthuses which are now in 

 pots should he placed ou a north border when they go out of bloom, and receive 

 moderate supplies of water during the summer season. In the autumn tliey can 

 be divided and be put in pots, or what is decidedly better for them, b<: planted in a 

 bed of good loamy soil in a cold frame. The polyanthuses lifted from the flower-beds 

 should be planted on a shady border, and bo put rather close together m lines, nine 

 or twelve inches apart. In the autumn, when the flower-beds have been cleared 

 of their summer occupants, tliey ciin be lifted and divided. 



IIakdening oFi- Bedding Plants. — A Young Gardener. — The hardiest of the 

 bedder^ — the geraniums, calceolaiias, pttunias, and verbenas, for example, that are 

 now nicely established, and properly hardened, may be removed from the frames to a 

 sheltered positi<mout()f doors.and b<! protectod with mHtsatniglit. Temporary frames, 

 or cradles as they are tui.hnically termed, made about four f.et m width, with 

 planks nine or twelve inches wider, set on edge, and held logctlior by cross pieces, are 



Jlay. 



