FLOKAI. OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH. 47 



over Iiead, as they are liable to be rotted off by its remaining in the 

 centre; care, too, is necessary not to give too much at the roots, for if 

 Icept tvet they soon become sickly. The plants properly treated will 

 bloom fine the same season. The fringed flowered kinds are the best. 

 Cinerarias should now be forwarded by re-potting, due attention to 

 watering, &c. They often require fumigating, being so very subject 

 to the green fly. Calceolarias, too, should be encouraged, to have 

 them large ; they, as well as Cinerarias, succeed best when grown in a 

 warm, moist, airy pit-frame, kept at about 56° of temperature ; thus 

 kept, and temperature increased with tlie season, they will bloom 

 luxuriantl)"^, and when coming into bloom may be removed to the 

 greenhouse, &c. .Jacobese and Guernsey Lilies, &c., should be re- 

 potted. Mignonette should be sown in pots for early summer blooming. 

 Fuchsias required for exhibition should now be cut-in, so as to have 

 them a good shape, and after having pushed a little be re-potted, 

 thinning away all unnecessary shoots. 



IN THE GREENHOUSE, &.c. 



All air, in dry favourable weather, must be admitted, so as just to 

 keep frost out. Pelargoniums, to be superb specimens, should be re- 

 potted into their blooming pots (read the several Articles on their cul- 

 ture in previous volumes) ; they must have a free circulation of air 

 around the plants ; it gives vigour to the shoots and prepares them for 

 a higher temperature afterwards without injury, and a stronger bloom 

 is produced. Fumigate to destroy green fly. The one year old plants 

 headed down last autumn will have produced young shoots, now a few 

 inches long. If not already properly thinned, do it directly. In order 

 to have a succession of bloom, now stop the shoots ; this will induce 

 the production of lateral ones, which will come into bloom after the 

 first race of plants has ceased, and continue to a late period of the 

 season. A few more plants, stopped a month later, will supply to the 

 end of the year. Attention to the provision for succession is very 

 necessary by all persons who iiave but room-windows for a habitation 

 for their plants. An excellent compost for Pelargoniums consists of 

 equal parts of turfy sandy loam, which has been cut and turned for 

 a fQw months previous, and well-rotted manure. (See Vol. xvr., 

 p. 199.) The surface soil in all pots should be stirred up ; it tends to 

 liealth. Epacris, Correas, Coronillas, Acacias, Cinerarias, and other 

 plants, will now be coming into bloom ; water seldom as possible, but 

 when given let there be as much as will moisten all the soil. Ericas 

 will still generally be inactive, therefore give but little water as 

 required, and recollect their proper situation is in the most airy part of 

 the house, but guard them from north-east winds very carefully. If 

 any mildew appears, dust with sulphur. Camellias, too, should occupy 

 an airy part, and the greatest care should be taken to keep the soil in 

 an equally moistened medium state, using water of a temperature equal 

 to that of the house ; if these points are neglected it is likely the flower 

 buds will drop. Give weak manure-water alternate with the other. 

 In all cases wiien very severe weather continues for some time, it is 

 necessary to keep the sashes of the pit close, and perhaps to retain 

 during day as well as night the matted covering; much caution is 



