96 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



is most suitable: — Two barrows full of fresh yellow loam, three of well-rotted 

 horse-dung, and half a barrowful of river-sand, well mixed; plant in it without 

 sifting, but breaking very well with the spade, and have a free draiuage of rough 

 turf, &c. ; 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, where growing early attention to training 

 and thinning should be given. 



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

 sifted soil for the surface. Offsets root rapidly now, and should be potted off. 



Chrysanthemums — sow seed of, and raise in moist heat. Miud the suckers 

 of old plants are not drawn up ; admit duly of air. Pot off suckers for next 

 bloomins. 



Commellina tubers and Tigridia bulbs should now be planted. 



Cuttings of Salvias, Fuchsias, Heliotropes, Geraniums, Ceisias, Alonsoas, 

 Lotuses, Senecios, &c, where it is desired to plant such out in beds, should be 

 struck in moist heat as early as possible. Young shoots, cut off clean, strike 

 readily. (See kinds of plants suitable, in vol. i., p. 38 ; and for additional kinds, 

 subsequent vols.) Pot into small pots any struck to give vigour to them, to be 

 better suited for turning out in May. 



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

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

 Cuttings be taken off and struck in heat. Pot off struck cuttings. 



Achimenes, Gesueria, Gloxinia, and Tropsolum bulbs, &c, that have been 

 kept dry during winter, should now be potted, and gently brought forward in 

 heat. 



Herbaceous perennials, biennials, &c, should now be divided, if required. 



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

 shoots that have very plump leading buds 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. To make them bloom blue, use charcoal. 



Pansies divide successfully now ; the shoots root freely at the under sides. 



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, as directed for Auriculas, only 

 the soil need not be so rich. Seed may now be sown ; the best method is to 

 raise it in heat, harden gradually, and transplant when large enough. Offsets 

 may be removed, or plauts divided, if an increase is desired. 



Ranunculuses and Anemones — should now be planted, taking care no fresh 

 applied dung is in the soil, nor should the grouud to plant in be lightened up 

 more than two inches deep. The soil of the hed should be half a yard deep at 

 the least. The best roots for flowering are such as have the crowns high and 

 firm, with regular placed claws. Another bed, planted a fortnight later, brings 

 them into bloom, so as to assist a florist to select for a show. Protect from excess 

 ef rain. 



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 happen to be affected with canker will 

 appear 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. Protect from excess of rain. 



Seeds — of greenhouse and similar plants may now successfully be sown, raised 

 in moist temperature. 



