130 



THE FLORAL WOBLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



grown. On the other hand, size, in moderation, must not be lost 

 sight of. It was not with small bloom3 that I have taken first prizes 

 for these last fifteen years. I would therefore advise the young 

 grower to avoid the two extremes. In shading blooms for exbibition, 

 as a general rule, they should be one-third blown before they are put 

 under the shade ; and take care to secure such as appear to be coming 

 good, and at the time they are required, from injury by friction. 

 Slugs and earwigs are very destructive, and must be persevernigly 

 kept down from the time the plants are put out till the end of the 

 season. If you should be annoyed by a small black insect (which is 

 often the casein July), use every means to encourage the plants to 

 make rapid growths, by watering and syringing them overhead, and 

 by brushing the depredators from the points of the shoots. Snuff, 

 tobacco-water, and various remedies are often resorted to ; but these 

 if effectual in kdling the pests, generally destroy the points of the 

 shoots ; if the plants are in a thriving condition, they will soon 

 recover themselves. If the season proves dry, water freely two or 

 three times a week ; but never let it be done by driblets ; give a 

 good soaking when you do water, if that should not be so often. 

 Employ manure water once a week as soon as they begin to throw 

 up their buds ; but it should be used in a weak state at the 

 commencement. 



Before concluding these remarks, permit me to bear witness to 

 the increasing interest taken both in the culture of the Dahlia for 

 competition and in the raising of seedlings. The enjoyment and 

 pleasing recreation attending the cultivation of florists' flowers add 

 numbers to the fancy. 



I have much satisfaction in stating that no flower is more gene- 

 rous in repaying the enthusiastic florist for his labour than the 

 Dahlia. 



HOTHOUSES FOE AMATEURS. 



HE ample directions given from time to time in the Floeal 

 Would, for the management of small greenhouses, will 

 enable amateurs to keep their collection of plants in 

 good order without much difficulty ; but there are 

 doubtless many persons who would prefer a hothouse, 

 but may be deterred from erecting one on account of the supposition 

 that it is more difficult to manage than a greenhouse. I have, how- 

 ever, no doubt that with a little experience and perseverance, any 

 intelligent person will find very little difficulty in the matter ; and it 

 must afford gratification to the owner of a small hothouse to produce 

 for his own table, and by his own management, his dish of French 

 beans, new potatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, etc., and also a 

 succession of beautiful flowers all through the winter and early 

 spring months, and in summer a constant supply of melons, a good 

 crop of grapes, and pine-apple occasionally, besides a regular display 

 of hothouse plants in flower. A hothouse for these purposes, of 



