MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 95 



On destroying the Brown Scale. — Euphorbias, Cinnamon, Lemon, Orange- 

 trees, &c, are often pestered with the brown scale. If the plants be sponged or 

 syringed in every part with a strong infusion of chamomile, it will speedily rid 

 them of the pest. Experience enables me to assert it. It is easily done, and 

 does not in the least injure any plant on which it is applied. 



Flora. 



On the One-shift System of Potting. — Being desirous to realise the benefits 

 of the one-shift system of potting, and to avoid, if possible, the destruction of 

 some delicate kinds of Heaths and a scarlet Epacris I had bought for 63.$., it 

 struck me the best plan would be to put inside the large pot a less one, upside 

 down ; upon this to place the ball of the plant, the surface of which will be as 

 high as the rim. This keeps the main body of the roots from excessive wet, and 

 the ball will not sink too low in the pot afterwards, and thus be liable to excess of 

 moisture. My plants succeeded admirably, and now are very healthy. 



Guildford, March 4, 1844. A Flower Gardener. 



FLORICULTURAL CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 



Amaryllises, and other liliaceous bulbous plants which have been kept dor- 

 mant, may now be re-potted, and put into an increased temperature. 



Annuals, Hardy, such as Clarkias, Nemophilas, Larkspurs, &c. — If the soil 

 be moderately dry, some of the most hardy kinds, to bloom early in the summer, 

 may be sown in warm parts of the country, or situations well protected, but in 

 cold places, not until the end of the month ; for if the seeds of many sorts begin 

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

 method of sowing the small seeds in patches 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 seeds, which will assist 

 them in vegetating properly. 



Annuals, Tender, such as Cockscombs, Balsams, Stocks, &c. — Such as have 

 been sown and may be up, should have all possible air given to prevent their 

 being drawn up weakly. In watering those in pots they 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. Cockscombs, Amaranthus, Balsam, Browallia, Brachycoma, Thuu- 

 bergias, Maurandias, &c, if large enough to pot, should be done in sixty sized 

 pots. 



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, 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. 



Campanula pyramidalis — to have fine pot specimens should be potted, if not 

 before done, and encouraged to grow. 



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, ti at the bottom, and 10 deep. In each pot three plants may be placed 

 triangularly, 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 barrowful of river sand, well mixed; plant in it 



