■16 FLORAL OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH. 



to mark each bed witli the kinds required, and then to prepare a stock 

 to furnish accordingly. 



XN THE rOKCXlUG FXtAItXE. 



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

 (fee, in pots, and the half iiardy kinds as Asters, Stocks, &c., either 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 foUoM^s. C4ardenias should be forced 

 now, as also other similar plants. (See list in Stove department.) 



Cuttings of Hemimeris, Salvias, Heliotropes, Geraniums, Lotus, Ana- 

 gallis, and such like plants for the open beds in summer should imme- 

 diately be struck, or the plants will be too weak to answer the purpose. 

 If parts of cuttings were put off in autumn they should now be potted 

 off singly into small pots, they will tlien be well established by turning 

 out time ; any long ones amongst them should be stopped to induce 

 laterals and make bushy plants. 



Dahlia roots should be immediately put to force ; if increase is re- 

 quisite, take off tlie shoots wiien about four inches long. 



Dahlia seed should be sown 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. Achimenes, Gesnerias, Gloxinias, &c., should 

 be introduced to incite their immediate growth, and as soon as the 

 pJants have puslied, pot them, singly or otlierwise, as desirable. Ama- 

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

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

 those in glasses give a change of water every three or four days. At 

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

 conchiflora 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 sliort time, and never water 

 them over-head, 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 kept tvet they soon become sickly. The plants properly treated 

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

 best. 



Iir THE COI.B FRAME, GREEN-HOUSE, &c. 



Continue to preserve all inmates of the cold frame in as quiescent 

 state as possible. In all cases when very severe weather continues for 

 some time, it is necessary to keep the sashes close, and perhaps to re- 

 tain during day as well as night the matted covering, much caution is 

 therefore required to avoid destruction by damp. Admit air in 

 abundance whenever the weather permits, and occasionally, when a 

 mild day presents, clean the pit throughout, stirring the surface a 

 little, also scrupulously remove all dead leaves and branches from the 

 plants. Carefully and sparingly give water now and then as abso- 



