March.~] GREEN-HOUSE GERANIUMS. 201 



ludicrous idea, having the appearance of keeping the 

 water from reaching the bottom of the tub or barrel. For 

 the best kind of tub for large trees, see August under this 

 head. If any of the trees have stunted, straggling, or 

 irregular heads about the end of this month or beginning 

 of next, head or cut them down to the shape desired. The 

 old wood will push fresh shoots. You may cut close, or 

 shorten less or more, according as you desire young shoots 

 to arise ; at the same time observe that you do not cut below 

 the graft or inoculation. Trees thus headed down should 

 be kept until May, and then planted in the garden, (see 

 May,) or, if that cannot be done, turn it out, and reduce 

 the ball of earth by probing with a pointed stick all round 

 the sides and bottom of the ball, cutting off any very matted 

 roots. If any of the roots are decayed, cut them into the 

 sound wood. By being thus reduced, it will go into the 

 same pot or tub, if not a less one. Having a good supply 

 of fresh earth ready, put a few inches in the bottom of the 

 pot or tub, place the tree therein, and fill all around, at the 

 same time pressing it down with the hand or a stick. Give 

 very little water until there are signs of vegetation. 



MYRTLES, OLEANDERS, &c. 



These, with similar exotics, may be treated as above. If 

 any of them have been infected with the scaly insect, after 

 heading down, &c., scrub the remaining stems with a strong 

 decoction of tobacco, heated to about 100. Afterward 

 clean with soap and water. 



GERANIUMS. 



These will be growing freely. Keep them in airy 

 situations, so that they may not grow too weak, and flower 

 imperfectly. To flower these plants strong and of good 

 colour, they must not be crowded together, neither far from 

 the light, and have plenty of air admitted to them when 

 the weather is favourable. * Keep them free from the green- 

 fly, by fumigating frequently. 



