FLOKAI. OPERATIONS FOK THE MONTH. 23 



gentle showers. Ranunculuses and Anemoties planted last autumn 

 may be protected from injury by frost, with garden mats over the bed. 

 The bed for planting in next month should now be turned over for the 

 last time ; pick out all worms, and give it a slight sprinkling of lime; 

 then spread the bed evenly, and it will be consolidated by the planting 

 period. Choice Hyacinths may be protected by similar means, or by 

 placing an inverted garden-pot over each. Dahlia roots stored safely 

 from frost are not necessarily secure from decay, but require exami- 

 nation to remove all that seem damping or shrivelling, potting them in 

 rather dry soil, and placing them in a warm frame. The best sorts, of 

 which a large stock is desired, will, about the latter part of the month, 

 require potting and placing in the frame, gradually inducing them into 

 activity. Tulips still require to be most carefully guarded from frost, 

 for however hardy tlie nature of the bulb is, they rarely throw up 

 perfect blooms if touched by frost. 



IN THE FORCING STOVE. 



At the end of the month sow seeds of the tender annuals, as Cocks- 

 comb, Amaranthus, &c., to have them fine specimens for the green- 

 house, in summer ; and Ten-week Stocks, Eussian and Prussian 

 Stocks, &c., to bloom early, should be sown in pots, or be sown upon 

 a slight hot-bed : also some other of the half-tender kinds, to prepare 

 them strong for early summer blooming. 



The Jacobese and Guernsey Amaryllises, with others of the genus, 

 should be repotted; also to have a few early blooming plants of 

 Achimenes, Gloxinias, Gesnerias, &c., they should be started, and 

 when beginning to push separate and pot them singly. 



Cuttings of Salvias, Fuchsias, Heliotropes, Geraniums, Anagallis, 

 Hemimeris, Lotus, Bouvardia, &c., desired for planting out in borders 

 or beds during spring and summer, should be struck in moist heat at 

 the end of the month, in order to get the plants tolerably strong by 

 May, the season of planting out. Lobelias in pots should now be 

 pushed, in order to divide and pot singly next month. Dahlia seed is 

 best retained in the head as grown, spread singly where they will not 

 be liable to mould, and be kept in a dry situation ; the seeds will thus 

 be kept plump. Mignonette, to bloom early in boxes or pots, or to 

 turn out in the open borders, should now be sown. Sow in pans seeds 

 of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Ericas, &c. ; the plants will be fit to plant 

 off in May. 



IN THE GREENHOUSE, &c. 



In this department, mind that if Camellias are not regularly supplied 

 with soft, not too cold water, the buds will drop ; if too much, fre- 

 quently that will cause them to drop too. Thin the flower-buds too if 

 crowded. Never give heat to Heaths as long as the frost can be kept 

 out by coverings or otherwise. A few degrees of frost will never 

 injure Cape Heaths, whereas fires are their ruin. Let the air blow 

 upon them on all favourable occasions. Nothing destroys the consti- 

 tution of these plants so much as close and damp houses. Should any 

 choice varieties of Azalea indica be required for the purpose of propa- 

 gation by cuttings, tiiey may be transferred to a temperature sufficiently 

 high to excite an early growth. Cuttings of these will be found to 



