72 MISCELLANEOUS INTEl.LIGENCE. 



pots hey must not be watered over the tops, or many 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 frames must be watered 

 (when 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 when 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, 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. Immediately 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 on them, rr 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 the 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 tri- 

 angularly, not planting deeper than to fix them securely. The following 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. 



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. 



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 betaken off anil struck in heat. 



Gesneria, Gloxinia — and Trop^eolum bulbs, that have been kept dry during 

 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. 



Pelakgoniums. — 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. 



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 

 best roots for flowering are such as have the crowns high and firm, with regular 

 placed claws. 



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 cut- 

 ting back all the old wood to below where the new shoots had pushed, the dor- 

 mant 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 ashappened 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 exposuie. 



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

 in moist temperature. 



