MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 71 



couutry, or situations well protected, early in the month, hut in cold places 

 not until the end of the month ; for if the seeds of many sorts have begun to 

 vegetate, and frost operate upon them, they are often destroyed. The best 

 method of sowing the small seeds in patcnes is, to have a quantity of finely 

 sifted soil ; spread a portion where desired, after scattering the seeds, 

 sprinkle a little more soil over them, and then press it closely upon the seds, 

 which will assist tham in vegetr.ting properly. 



Annuals, 1 .:nder — Such as have been sown and may be up, should have 

 all possible air given to prevent their being d awn up weakly. In watering 4 

 those in pots they must not be watered ever the tops, or mauy of the sorts 

 will be rotted by it. The best method is to flood over the surface of each 

 pot, always using water that is new milk warm. Those annuals sown in 

 Irames must be watered (wlien requisite) with a very fine syringe, or pan 

 rose to sprinkle with ; but the best plan is to take advantage of gentle 

 rains. For any seeds yet requiring to be sown use fine soil pressed to 

 the seeds, and wheu convenient, place the pots (if used) in moist heat till 

 the plants are up. 



Auriculas.— Those requiring top dressing should be done immediately, 

 by taking off about two inches deep of the top soil, and replace it with some 

 very rich, more than one-half of it should be roiteu cow dung two years old, 

 and the rest loam and sand. Immediately after this dressing, let the soil 

 be well settled by a free watering. By the end of the month the unexpa.vled 

 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 '>e admitted to the plants during the day, only screen fiom 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 12 inches wide 

 at the top, 6 at the bottom, and 10 deep, In each pot three plants may be 

 placed triangularly, not planting deeper than to fix them securely. The fol- 

 lowing compost is most suitable: Two barrows full of fresh yellow loam, 

 three of well-rotted horse dung, and half a barrow full of river sand, well 

 mixed ; plant in it without sifting, but breaking very well with the spade, 

 place the plants in a sheltered situation out of doors. 



Creepers. — 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 be 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 not 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. The following is a very good 

 compost for growing them in :— One barrow-full of rich loam, half a ditto of 

 peat, half a ditto of Very rotten dung, or rotten vegetable mould, and on© 

 third ditto of Calais, or other fine sand, Never use sifted soil,' but well 

 broken As soou as the plants are potted, place them in a temperature of 

 about 68 degrees of heat by day, and 60 by night. Thi.s 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 TRorcEOLUN bulbs, that have been kept dry 

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



