TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR. 



has a long stem, is a deep rich blue in color, 

 very fragrant, and a robust grower. 



Window Plants — If fuchsias commence 

 to drop their leaves, red spider is likely 

 causing the trouble ; syringe the plants of- 

 ten ; if these little pests are very numerous, 

 take the plant, if not too large, turn it up- 

 side down and plunge the plant, not the 

 pot, into a tub of clear cool water, hold it 

 there a minute or two, as the red spider dis- 

 likes water, and repeat the process every few- 

 days if required. A few nice stocky ger- 

 aniums well established in 4 inch pots may 

 be potted into 6 inch pots, in good rich, 

 loamy soil, plunge pot up to the rim outside 

 in the open border in June ; pinch the tips 

 of the leading shoots out about every two 

 weeks until July, and keep the flower stems 

 closely picked off" as soon as they appear 

 until September, then let them flower; take 

 them in before frost. By this method you 

 will secure bushy plants and lots of flowers 

 in autumn and winter. Le Pilote, scarlet ; 

 Hermine, white, and Corinne, double flower- 

 ing bronze, are three good varieties. Fra- 

 grant geraniums succeed well treated in this 

 way, the lemon scented variety being per- 

 haps the best. The East Lothian stock 

 makes a good window plant. A plant of 



Fig. 1815. Spike OF East 

 Lothian Stock. 



Fig. i8u. Tulip. 



the perennial tro- 

 peolum, Boule de 

 Feu, will make a 

 grand climber for 

 the window in 

 summer or wint- 

 er ; give it rich 

 soil, plenty of 

 root room and 

 water. This var- 

 iety of the tro- 

 peolum, with its 

 profuse and daz- 

 zlingscarlet blos- 

 soms, makes a 

 grand display in 

 any place suita- 

 ble for it to grow 

 in. Cactus should 

 be repotted if 

 they require it, 

 but don't over- 

 pot them ; equal 

 quantities of 



loam and sand, with plenty of drainage, 

 suits these plants best ; water them seldom, 

 especially just after repotting. Calla lilies 

 may be planted out in the garden in June in 

 a slightly shaded position. Water all plants 

 thoroughly when required, and on fine warm 

 days. 



Flower Garden — Finish forking up beds 

 and borders and transplanting annuals, etc., 

 trom frames. Thrip, green fly, and the rose 

 worm or grub, will soon commence their at- 

 tacks on out-door roses, the two former can 

 be kept down by an early application of to- 

 bacco water sprinkled on the plants, or 

 spread some tobacco stems under the plants; 

 if this is commenced early enough you can 

 keep these pests in check. Hellebore pow- 

 der, or a weak solution of Paris green wa- 

 ter, applied once or twice about the time the 

 first buds appear, will destroy the rose grub. 

 Dutch and other bulbs that are out of flower 

 may be taken from the beds, lay them in flat 



