THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 141 



hence it can never be well grown in the immediate vicinity of large 

 towns. Good and retentive sod soil from old pasture, of this four 

 parts, enriched with the other part of old cow manure, and two of 

 decaying leaves or rough vegetable mould, afford it the most accept- 

 able medium of growth. Though the leaf-mould is not wholly- 

 necessary, yet it will ever be found, both in respect to the Auricula 

 and Polyanthus, that wherever there occurs in the soil a little mass 

 of decaying leaves and sticks, there the roots will be most numerous 

 and vigorous. Such practical hints or natural tendencies the 

 observant florist ever treasures up, and it is by their observation 

 and application that he becomes a more successful cultivator than 

 his fellows. 



Now, the above advice is admirable for persons who may probably 

 have a garden possessing any situation they may think proper to 

 choose for their favourites ; but I am confined to a small rectangular 

 slip, bounded by low walls, and therefore I have to suit my practice 

 to my position. I am ever anxious to have the greatest display I 

 possibly can in all my borders, be they shady or not, in early spring, 

 and therefore, as Polyanthuses are well adapted for my purpose, I 

 plant them plentifully all round my garden in autumn, after my 

 bedding plants are removed ; they stand there all the winter, re- 

 quiring no protection, and in spring they come into bloom beauti- 

 fully. This season they have been, and are still, quite the admiration 

 of all who have seen them. As soon as they have done blooming I 

 move them to a shady corner, where I keep them all the summer, 

 and by autumn they are in good condition for transplanting again 

 into the open borders. 



Such, then, is the treatment I give this my favourite spring 

 flower. If required for the purpose of exhibition, or for ornament- 

 ing a cool, airy greenhouse, or even a cold frame, they may readily 

 be taken up with a ball of earth without injury, and potted, being 

 at the same time liberally supplied with water. When no longer 

 required for such purposes, they must be returned to their summer 

 quarters. 



PLANTING THE BEDS FOR SUMMER. 



| .WING decided of what jour stock of summer flowers 

 shall consist, and where you will place them, a few 

 directions on the subject of planting may be useful. If 

 you have your plants tie novo from a nursery, they 

 should by all means be in pots ; either purchased so, or 

 potted by yourself. A great number of handsome flowers may be 

 procured for a Binall sum, unpotted ; and if you put one of each 

 kind in a small pot, and shade them for a day or two in a cold frame, 

 they will soon be established. You will thus have your plants 

 ready for turning out when the season suits and the beds are readv, 

 without the risk of losing them by drought and sunshine— the great 



May. 



