72 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



taking off about two inches deep of the top soil, replacing it with some very rich ; 

 more than one half of it should be rotten cow dung two years old, and the rest 

 loam and sand. Immedately after this dressing, let the soil be well settled by 

 a free watering. By the end of the month the unexpanded blossoms will be 

 nearly full grown ; no water must be allowed to fall upon them, or the blossoms 

 would be liable to suffer injury by it. All possible air may be admitted to the 

 plants during the day, only screen from cutting frosty winds. 



Carnations.— At the end of the month, the last year's layers kept in pots or 

 beds during winter should be planted off into large pots. In each pot three 

 plants may be placed triangularly, not planting deeper than to fix them securely. 

 Place them in a sheltered situation out of doors. 



Cheepers and twining greenhouse or hardy plants should be pruned and 

 regulated before they begin to grow. 



Calceolaria Seed should be sown early in the month, having the finest 

 sifted soil for the surface. 



Camellias. — Those kinds done blooming should he immediately potted, for if 

 allowed to push the least before this is done, the operation frequently kills the 

 tender shoots. In potting, &c, never cut the matted roots, but shake the soil off, 

 and replace with what new soil may be required. If the balls are nut matted 

 with roots, just loosen the outer fibres with the hand, which will induce them 

 sooner to push into the soil. A very free drainage is required, or the plants will 

 never flourish. As soon as the plants are potted, place them in a temperature 

 of about 68 degrees of heat by day, and GO by night. This will cause them to 

 push more vigorously, and more certain to induce flower buds. 



Dahlias, if not already put into excitement, should be done as early as 

 possible. Seeds should also be sown, placing them in a hot-bed frame till up. 



Gesneria, Gloxinia, and Tropj.olium bulbs, that have been kept dry dur- 

 ing winter, should now be potted, and gently brought forward. 



Hydrangeas. — Cuttings may now be taken off, cutting off the tops of any 

 shoots that have very plump leading bulbs, about one inch below the bud of each 

 cutting. These inserted, each into a small pot, and placed in moist heat, will 

 soon strike root, and will, with future proper treatment, bloom one fine head 

 each strikingly beautiful. 



Pelargoniums. — Cuttings now put in, struck in a hot-bed frame, and potted 

 off as soon as they have taken root, will bloom during autumn. 



Polyanthuses should now be top dressed. Seed may now be sown; the 

 best method is to raise it in heat, harden gradually, and transplant when large 

 enough. 



Ranunculuses should now be planted, taking care no fresh applied dung is 

 in the soil, nor should the ground to plant in be lightened up more than two 

 inches deep. The soil of the bed should be half a yard deep at the least. The 

 Lest roots lor flowering are such as have the crowns high and firm. 



Rose Trees not yet pruned, if allowed to remain untouched till the shoots 

 of the present coming season be about an inch long, and be then shortened by 

 cutting back all the old wood to below where the new shoots had pushed, the 

 dormant buds will then be excited, and roses will be produced some weeks later 

 than if pruned at a much earlier season. Plants in pots now put into heat will 

 come into bloom in May. 



Tuberoses should be planted, one root in a small pot, using very rich sandy 

 soil ; the pots should be placed in moist heat till the plants are up a few inches, 

 then they may be planted into larger pots and taken into a stove, and finally 

 into a greenhouse. 



Tulips. — At this season, such as happened to be affected by canker will ap- 

 pear sickly ; the roots should be examined, and the damaged part be cut clean 

 out. If left exposed to sun and air, the parts will soon dry and heal. Avoid 

 frosty air getting to the wound by exposure. 



