286 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



this order, and put the last first ; my experience, however, justifies the order 

 in which I have placed them. Keep the new soil level with the top of the old 

 ball. I do not approve of raising the collar above : and to depress it beneath 

 the general level is certain death to hard-wooded plants. All plants, however 

 hardy, should be kept warm and moist for a few weeks after repotting, espe- 

 cially if they have received a large shift. The growth of the roots is thus 

 promoted — a point of great importance at this stage. At first it only occupies 

 the hall of its new dwelling, whence it is easily expelled by accident or disease ; 

 but after it has taken possession of the whole house, and fills every available 

 space with its large family of roots, why, the plant is no longer a tenant at 

 will, but a tenant for life, and it requu-es a ^-iolent wrench forcibly to re- 

 move it. 



779. Heaths. — These remarks are applicable to all the free-growing varieties : 

 the potting of the entire family should now be proceeded with. 



780. Pelargoniu7iis will now require careftil training. Remove every dead 

 leaf, thin out superfluous shoots, and keep the plants scrupulously clean. 

 Maintain a temperature of 50° ; sj-ringe on fine, bright mornings. If the 

 weather is fine towards the end of the month, sprinkling may be repeated in 

 the afternoon, and the house shut up about four o'clock. Keep the plants 

 close to the glass, and admit air in quantity proportioned to the mildness of 

 the external air. Stop and shift plants for the latest bloom, and put in the 

 toppings for cuttings. Fancy pelai'goniums require the same general treat- 

 ment, but even more care in ventilation and watering. 



781. Cinerarias. — Keep clean, remove decayed leaves, and throw away all 

 but the most choice varieties as soon as they have finished flowering. Save 

 the best sorts for seed or suckers, and sow seed at once for the earhest 

 plants. 



782. Calceolarias. — Thin out the worst of the crowded leaves; peg down 

 the shoots to increase the strength of the plants, and sow seed for next year. 



783. Forcing-Pit. — Introduce fresh batches of azaleas, lilacs, rhododendrons, 

 roses, &c. Remove pinks as soon as they fairly show flower, to a cooler house. 

 Hydrangeas introduced now will force well, and make useful plants for 

 the conservatory. Pai-t of the pit should now be devoted to sowing tender 

 annuals in pens or boxes, — a fii-st sowing of Balsams, Amaranthus, 

 Egg-plants, Mesembi-yanthemum, Ipomoea, Thunbergias, Primula sinensis, 

 Humea, &c. 



784. Stove. — Keep a nice growing temiperature of from 65° to 70-°. If the 

 sun continues very bright throughout the day, houses containing variegated 

 plants wall require shading for a few hours about noon. This will be the more 

 necessary after repotting. Clerodendrums, AUamandas, Stephanotis, Ixoras, 

 &c. , should now be pushed forward in a shai-p bottom-heat. They may receive 

 a liberal shift, and be allowed to grow rather loosely for a time, to encourage a 

 rapidextension of parts. Ferns should nowbe thoroughly overhauled, examined, 

 shifted into larger pots, or reduced, as circumstances may require : nice fibry 

 peat, leaf-mould, sharp sand, and broken sandstone, suit them well. 



