168 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



they died in consequence. The evergreens appear little injured, excepting the 

 leaves of the common laurel. The Sweet Bay (Laurus Nobilis) is killed. The 

 Rosa multiflora, not much injured ; the Rosa ruga, unhurt. None of the 

 Lupines at all hurt ; such as L.arboreus, L. Marshallianus, or L. Polyphyllus, &c. 



Since writing the above, I find that the loss of Lobelias has been general, so 

 that the nurserymen are not able to supply the demand. 



23d May, 1841. Scotus. 



P.S. — I recommend to your attention an article on the Culture of the Car- 

 nation, (in the ' Gardener's Magazine,' 1840, p. 153,) by John Gregor, of Torres, 

 as it will cause a total change in the mode of cultivating that flower. 



On Cultivation of the Heartsease. — In a former paper on the cultivation 

 of the Heartsease, inserted in a recent number, I gave some directions for pre- 

 paring the soil, and making the plantations for spring blooming. I also recom- 

 mended that garden pots should be turned down over the plants during severe 

 weather. It will be well if those who planted in the autumn availed themselves 

 of the suggestion, or adopted some such plan for the protection of the choicer 

 varieties ; as the extremely piercing winds, and the unusually low temperature 

 of the air during the greater part of the months of January and February, have 

 made sad havock where newly-made plantations were left altogether unprotected, 

 especially in exposed situations. But after a winter of remarkable severity, — 

 such as '• the oldest man living can scarcely remember," — the reign of the Ice 

 King is now, it is hoped, nearly at an end, and the '• cloud-embosomed lark" gives 

 token of approaching spring, when the milder reign of Flora will commence, and 

 the presence of her attendant train, unfolding their ever-varying charms, cause 

 all loyal hearts to pay their accustomed homage, and rejoice 

 " In Nature's resurrection from the tomb 

 Of icy Winter's deepest, darkest gloom." 

 But I must not indulge in the wanderings of fancy, but endeavour to give a few 

 practical directions suitable to the advancing season. 



The beds planted in the autumn should now be loosened with the fork, and 

 the plants carefully gone over, for the purpose of fixing firmly in the soil such 

 as the frost may have lifted, which will be found to be the case with most of 

 those that were not well established before the winter set in. If the stems of 

 any of the plants are much exposed it will not be advisable to force them down, 

 hut to remove the soil, and lay them aslant ; it is important that they should not 

 stand much out of the ground, as the frost at night, and the sun by day, at this 

 time of the year, frequently act on the unprotected stems and affect the juices of 

 the plants, so as to prove fatal after they have withstood the more equal severity 

 of the winter. It is, at least, of equal consequence that the plants, at this season, 

 should be protected from the increased action of the sun, as from the diminished 

 action of the frost; they should, therefore, be again covered at night, if frosty, 

 and the pots removed only for an hour or two towards evening. The same 

 treatment should be observed if rainy days are likely to be succeeded by frosty 

 nights ; which, in this changeful climate, is often the case in the month of 

 March. 



At the latter end of March the beds should receive a top dressing of rotten 

 dung and well-decayed turf, or fresh maiden soil ; this dressing should be at least 

 an inch thick, and the plants left with merely their heads uncovered. During 

 the prevalence of the usual dry cutting easterly winds, the garden pots may again 

 be used with advantage, but should be removed occasionally for a few hours, to 

 give light and air. These minutiae may appear tedious, but it is principally by 

 attention to trifles that the persevering and industrious florist ensures success ; 

 and as it is my aim to enable the admirers of the Heartsease to cultivate it in 

 perfection, I would omit nothing calculated to produce the desired result ; but 

 if, during the winter or early spring, the plants are suffered to become unhealthy, 

 all the after care and attention that may be bestowed will most probably fail, 

 and disappointment consequently ensue. The appearance of the plants on my 

 principal bed — which, up to the present time, have been subjected to the treat- 

 ment recommended — compared with others planted at the same time and not so 

 treated, is highly satisfactory. 



*.,.* For Flokiculturai. Calendar/u> - July, see Ji/gust Number. 



