MONTHLY CALENDAR. 337 



ventilation may be rendered safe by using extra firing. Camellias and other 

 plants with large coriaceous leaves, if not perfectly clean, should be washed with 

 sponge, and, if necessary, with soft soap, to eradicate the haunts of insects ; 

 and a moist, genial heat maintained by sprinkling the floor, stage, and pipes. 

 Boronias, Lechenaultias, Chorozemas, and Tropseolums will now be fit to remove 

 to the conservatory. Place them in as airy a situation as possible, main- 

 taining a temperature of 45" to 50° at night, rising 10° or so from sun-heat. 



950. It may be partly on the principle of contrast with the dormant state 

 of plants out of dooi-s, but I think chiefly on account of the intrinsic beauty of 

 its occupants, that the conservatory is so much more beautiful for the next 

 three months than it ever is afterwards throughout the year. There is a deli- 

 cacy and fragrance about spring flowers that never seems equalled after- 

 wards. 



951. In addition to the plants named last month, this perfume will now be 

 enhvened by the lily of the valley, roses, sweetbriar, and violets. Either is- 

 exquisite alone ; but, all combined and added to the odour of lilacs, hyacinths, 

 narcissus, and other spring flowers now filling with fragrance an artificial, 

 partially confined atmosphere, constitute a delicious odour. 



952. Greenhouse Plants divide themselves into hard and soft-wooded plants. 

 Among the former are Boronias, Hoveas, Acacias, and Chorozemas, 

 Epacridaj, Genistas, and Pultenseas, which will now be coming into bloom, 

 if well managed. 



953. Azaleas will be coming forward, where there is a good stock of such 

 plants as A. lateritia, Gladstonesii, Prince Albert, prcestantissima, and 

 others of similar habit : their bloom should be retarded by placing them oii 

 the shaded side of the house. Plants that have been forced should have the 

 seed-vessels picked off, and shifted, if the pots are tolerably full of roots. 



954. Heaths in full growth require an astonishing quantity of water at this- 

 season of the year ; mere driblets ai-e certain death to them. When the pots are 

 full of roots, they should be gone over two or three times a week, and filled to 

 the brim with water. The longer it is in passing through (provided the drainage 

 is all right), there is the greater necessity for repeating the dose, as dry peat» 

 earth is one of the worst conductors of water. When the water remains 

 longer than ten minutes on the surface, a cold bath for twenty-four hours is 

 the only remedy. Unless the soil is hopelessly dry, this will cure it, and 

 it must not be watered again until the ball is turned out and examined. The 

 evil of excessive dryness is often increased by excessive drainage. Heaths,, 

 while they cannot endure stagnant water, like a moist genial soil when making 

 rapid growth. They resemble neither epiphytes nor orchids, and some of- 

 them naturally inhabit almost swampy districts. Give air more liberally as 

 the sun strengthens and the days lengthen, but avoid the cutting draughts so- 

 characteristic of the month. 



955. Pelargoniums, and other soft-wooded plants, now growing rapidly, 

 require every attention. Water carefully, so as to avoid any check iu their 

 growth, using manure-water occasionally, composed of equal parts of sheep,. 



