64 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



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 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 winter should be planted off into large pots 12 inches wide at the 

 top, 6 at the bottom, and ten deep. In each pot three plants may be placed tri- 

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

 is most suitable. Two barrows full of fresh yellow loam, three of well rotted 

 horse-dung, and half a banow 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 oft', 

 and replace with what new soil may be required. If the balls are not matted 

 wtth 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 flouiish. The following is very good compost for growing them in : — One 

 barrow full of rich lram, half a ditto of peat, half a ditto of very rotten dung, or 

 rotten vegetable mould, and one third ditto of Calais, or other fine sand. Never 

 use sifted soil, but well broken. As soon as the plants are potted, place them 

 in a temperauure of about 08 degrees of heat by day, and 60 by night. This 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 pos- 

 sible. Seeds s hould also be sown; placing them in a hot bed frame till up. 

 Cuttings be taken off and struck in heat. 



Gesnekia, Gloxinia — and Tropteoliji 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. 



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. 



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 hjeat 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 happened to be affected by 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. 



