46 FLORAL OPERATIONS FOE THE MONTH. 



COW manure five or six inches deep, after vhich fill up with tlie proper 

 compost (see Articles upon). Auriculas and Pol3anthuses in pots 

 should have plenty of air in fine weatlier ; take oft' a portion of the 

 surtace soil, and fill up with a rich compost. Sheep and cow dung, very 

 old (reduced to earth), and decayed leaf-mould, suits well. Be careful 

 that Tulips be firmly secured iu their positions, so that tliey be not 

 damaged by wind. A small protection against strong wind should be 

 provided on the bed side most exposed. Heartsease in beds sliould have 

 a similar protection, and a little fresli soil spread over the bed. Auri- 

 cula seed should be sown in a light loamy soil, and the pots or boxes be 

 placed in a cool pit ; the surface must be made even by pressure witii 

 the bottom of a pot; keep the surfa.ce just moist while the seed vegetates. 

 Now is the time to make a plan of the flower garden, parterre,' &c., 

 and to mark each bed with tlie kind of flowers required, and tlien to 

 prepare a stock to furnish accordingly, whether from the sowing of 

 seed or otherwise, as with Verbenas, «S:c. Protect the early buds of 

 Tree Peony, &c. 



Wi IN THE FORCING STOVT. 



Sow seeds of the tender annuals, as Balsam, Amaranthus, Cockscomb, 

 &c., in pots, and the half-hardy kinds, as Asters. Stocks, &c., eitlier in 

 pots or upon a bed of soil, &c. "When sown in pots, do not water the 

 surface at the time, but after a few days, if the soil be dry, a gentle 

 sprinkling may be given, and afterwards, till the plants are up, great 

 care must be taken to keep it moist, for when once softened, if the 

 seeds become dry, destruction soon follows. Gardenias should be 

 forced now, as also other similar plants. (See list in Stove depart- 

 ment.) 



Cuttings of Fuchsias, Alonsoas, Rngw-ort, Calceolarias, Cupheas, 

 Salvias, Heliotropes, Geraniums, Lotus, Bouvardias, Anagallis, Ver- 

 benas, Petunias, and such like plants for the open beds in summer, 

 should immediately be struck, or the plants will be too weak to answer 

 the purpose. If cuttings were put off in autumn, they should now be 

 potted olf singly into small pots, they will then be well established by 

 turning-out time ; any long ones amongst them should be stopped, to 

 induce laterals and make bushy plants. 



Dalilia roots should be immediately put to force; if increase is 

 requisite, take off the shoots when about four inches long. 



Dahlia seed should be so\;n in pots, and only just covered. Lobelias, 

 too, should be potted singly at the close of the month, to have them 

 vigorous by turning-out time. Boxes and pots of Mignonette for suc- 

 cession should be sown. Achimencs, Gesnerias, Gloxinias, &c., should 

 be introduced, to promote their inmiediate growth, and as soon as the 

 plants have pushed, pot them, singly or otherwise, as desirable. Ama- 

 ryllis, &c., may be excited in like manner. Hyacinths, &c., approach- 

 ing bloom, must be placed in an airy, light situation, and to those in 

 glasses give a change of Mater every three or four days. At the 

 closing part of the month pot singly Tigridia pavonia and T. conchi- 

 flora into small pots. Sow immediately in pots seed of the Chinese 

 Primrose, and as soon as the plants are fit to pot off do so in a rich 

 compost ; keep them in heat for a short tin;e, and never water them 



