THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 63 



February in all open weather, this is a sort of closing season, and all such work 

 delayed beyond the present month is incurring a risk. 



This month, Ranunculuses for the June shows must be planted. The beds 

 must be composed of half good loam, and half decomposed cow-dung well mixed ; 

 the bed should be dug out a foot deep at the beginning of the month. The most 

 enthusiastic florists leave the soil out of the bed in a ridge on each side of it, 

 until the 12th, when they put a layer of neat's dung two inches thick at bottom, 

 all over, then return the soil to the bed, leave it to settle till the 14th, when they 

 level it ; draw drills three inches deep and six inches apart ; the roots are gently 

 pressed into the earth at the bottom of the drill ; cover the roots an inch and a 

 half above the crown by drawing down some of the mould into the drill. 



Aueicttlas should be top-dressed with rich compost, chiefly the dung of 

 poultry well rotten into mould, and sparingly applied to them ; its own weight 

 of cow-dung also rotted; this mixed with rough sand to make water go through 

 it, will be found a first-rate top dress. Take off the surface without bruising the 

 roots, then fill up with the top-dressing, within a quarter of an inch of the top of 

 the pot ; water gently. 



Cabnations and Picottees must continue to have the same treatment as 

 recommended for last month. Mix up some loam and cow -dung in equal 

 quantities, lay tbem together in a heap, to get ready for potting off these plants 

 in their large pots for blooming. Turn it and mix it once a week. 



Roses. — Prune one half the roses in the garden, leaving the other half a 

 month longer to be pruned hereafter. The Chinese and climbing roses muBt be 

 pruned but little, the weakly branches removed, and all their dwindling sprigs cut 

 out, but main branches must not be shortened much. The garden kinds must be 

 cut back very close, not leaving more than the two or three bottom eyes of the 

 principal last year's shoots ; also cut out any old wood and branches which cross 

 one another, and are in each other's way. Plant roses, and whether they be 

 standards or dwarfs, worked roses, or on their own roots, out of doors or in pots, 

 cut the ends of all the roots, clean and take off all bruised portions, use strong 

 loam and dung in equal quantities, and if the soil out of doors be not of this de- 

 scription, dig in some stuff of the kind with each plant ; but we prefer autumn 

 planting ; do not prune newly-planted roses until you see how much of the wood 

 will break into buds ; graft roses on common stocks ; if well done you will make 

 plants of the prunings of your choice varieties. 



Dahlias. — Set some of the most choice that you are anxious to propagate in 

 pots of light mould, and place them in a hot-bed or cucumber frame. 



Anemones for late bloom should be planted the same way as the Ranuncu- 

 luses. 



If you have unwisely delayed removing strawberries for new beds in the 

 autumn, now is the only time to do it. Also clean strawberry beds, aud top- 

 dress them with decomposed dung. 



The same may be said of gooseberry and currant-bushes, raspberry canes, and 

 fruit trees in general, but we direct these things to be done in autumn. 



Rhubarb and Seakale may be covered for forcing with pots or boxes, and 

 surrounded with fermentiDg leaves or hot stable dung. 



Peas. — Sow for a succession crop to those sown in November and last month, 

 or if you have not sown any, sow for your first crop, not too thick nor too many, 

 as we recommend sowing every month till July or even Augubt ; earth up any 

 that are advancing in growth. 



Sow also early beans in drills a yard apart, and the beans three inches apart 

 in the drill. 



Cabbage. — Plant out in vacant spaccB the strongest from the August seed- 

 bed. 



Sow Radishes and Lettuce in a sheltered situation, where they may be easily 

 protected with litter, such as clean straw, which can be spread over them at 

 night, and remain on them in a frost, but be taken off in the morning in mild 

 weather. 



Onions for Seed. — Plant out a few fine bulbs to go to seed, plant the bulbs 

 tsro thirds in the ground, aud a foot from each other. 



February. 



