FLORAL OrKRATIONS FOR THE MONTH. 215 



Layers of Carnations and Picotees when well rooted should be potted 

 off. The bulbs of Tulips should have the loose coats dressed off. 

 Wallflower slips should be put oft' early. AVhere there are abundance 

 of suitable sliort shoots of the plants employed for beds, as Geraniums, 

 Heliotropes, Calceolarias, Anagallis, Double Eagwort, Salvias, Hemi- 

 meris, Bouvardias, &c., they should be put oft' and struck, after wiiich 

 they can be kept in a coolish situation, till the usual period of winter 

 protection. Tlius early prepared, it is done with less attention, and 

 the plants being well rooted, endure the winter better. Dahlias must 

 have the laterals thinned out, so that the principal stems stand free. 

 When flowers are required large in proportion, thin away the buds, 

 water abundantly, mulch over the roots, &c. What is termed the 

 Black Aphis fly has attacked the Dahlia this season most ravenously. 

 The best remedy is to brush them oft" daily, and water over tlie tops at 

 the evening. If the shoots be bent into a strong infusion of chamo- 

 mile water, we find it embitters the tender foliage, that the insects do 

 not attack them afterwards. Sow Mignonette for blooming in winter ; 

 and seeds of Brachycome iberidifolia now sown, and the plants potted 

 singly in small sixties, will survive through winter protected from 

 frost, and be highly ornamental for the greenhouse, sitting room, &c. 

 the next year. 



XH THE GREEKTHOirSE, &c. 



Pelargoniums. — Plants that have done blooming, and the young 

 wood has been a little hardened by a free admission of air, should now 

 be headed down, if intended for the next season's blooming. Being 

 now headed down, they soon push fresh shoots ; and as there generally 

 are many more than is necessary to retain for the proper formation of 

 tiie plants, they should be thinned when about an incli long. When 

 the shoots retained are about two inches long, repot the plants by 

 shaking off nearly all the old compost, and then replace with new. 

 These plants form the finest specimens for exliibition, &c. the follow- 

 ing year. (See excellent Articles on the entire culture, by Mr. Cock, 

 Mr. Catleugh, and other celebrated growers, in former Volumes of our 

 Magazine.) As early as possible put off cuttings to strike, for a 

 supply of young plants for next year. 



Camellias may now be re-potted. I consider it an excellent plan ; 

 perform this operation the moment that the flower-bud is decidedly 

 formed. As compost, I would recommend two-thirds of fibrous loam 

 of an unctuous character, and one-third of fibrous heath soil. The 

 more fibrous and lumpy it is the better, and a good sprinkling of char- 

 coal in small masses, with sharp silver sand, should be added. Let tiie 

 pots be most completely drained, by placing some large crocks in a very 

 hollow position at the bottom ; topping these up with a pounded mix- 

 ture of broken crocks and charcoal, from which all the very small 

 particles have been riddled. Cover this with very fibrous turf in 

 small lumps, before placing the ball, and keep pressing the material 

 (not ramming) close, with the fingers, during the process of filling up, 

 observing to have the compost in a melhjw state, rather inclining to 

 dryness. One most material point is, to see that the ball is thoroughly 

 moistened before sliifting ; if any doubt of tiiis exist, let the ball be 



