FLORAL OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH. 23 



in mild weather, so that they may receive the benefit of free air and 

 gentle showers. Ranunnduses and Anemones 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 examina- 

 tion 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 the nature of the bulb is, they rarely throw up 

 perfect blooms if" touched by frost. Divide and replant herbaceous 

 perennials, &c. If autumn sowing of annuals was omitted, now sow 

 some in small pots, place them in a frame, and turn them out in the 

 beds early in April : such will bloom early. 



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, Russian, 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 Jacobeae 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. 

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

 Hemimeris, Lotus, Bouvarclia, &c, desired for planting out in borders 

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

 in order to get the plants tolerably strong by May. Lobelias in pots 

 should now be pushed, in order to divide and pot singly next month. 

 Mignionette, 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. 



If Camellias are not regularly supplied with soft, not too cold water, 

 the buds will drop ; if too much, frequently that will cause them to 

 drop too. Thin the flower-buds if crowded. Never give heat to 

 1 1 wit lis 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, 

 as nothing destroys the constitution of these plants so much as close 

 and damp houses: so with the entire class of New Holland plants. 

 Should any choice varieties of Azalea indica be required for the pur- 

 pose of propagation by cuttings, they may be transferred to a tempera- 



