SEASONABLE NOTES FOR MARCH. 



BY WM. HUNT, HAMILTON. 



THE GREENHOUSE. 



fOWARD the end of the month or at 

 least early in April it will be neces- 

 sary to give partial shading- to palms 

 and ferns as well as to newly potted cutting-s 

 or young seedling plants. If the shading- is 

 delayed too late in the season many of the 

 plants (especially the young growth of 

 palms) will suffer from sun scald. There is 

 even greater danger in this respect at this 

 early season than later on when ventilation 

 can be given more freely than now during 

 the treacherous weather often experienced 

 in March. Bright hot sun, accompanied 

 with keen, biting, frosty winds, makes it 

 difficult to give ventilation sufficient to keep 

 down the temperature without exposing the 

 plants to danger. A light shading will pre- 

 vent the hot sun from doing any great dam- 

 age on bright cold days, when perhaps it is 

 difficult to open the ventilators. Plants in 

 flower will scarcely need shade for a week 

 or two yet. 



Water must be used more freely than 

 hitherto, not only to the roots of plants, but 

 on the floors as well as overhead syringing. 

 Sprinkling the floors liberally with water. 



early in the afternoon, will benefit the plants 



very much. 



Freesias. — Pots of these useful greenhouse 

 plants should still be given an ample supply 

 of water, after they have done flowering, if 

 good strong flowering pips or bulbs are re- 

 quired for use next season. Freesias com- 

 mence to form young bulbs just about the 

 time the plants are in full flower, so that it 

 is necessary ' to give them water several 

 weeks after they are out of flower. The 

 drying off or resting period must not be 

 commenced until the young bulbs have at- 

 tained to almost mature growth, which is 

 usually three or four weeks from the time 

 the old bulbs are out of flower. After 

 this period water can be withheld gradually 

 until they are dried off completely, when 

 no more water must be given them until 

 time to re-pot them in August or September. 



Roses. — These, whether in pots or planted 

 out, will require regular daily syringing on 

 bright days. A little fertilizer will be found 

 beneficial now that a more active growth 

 has commenced. 



Cyclamen. — Continue to water cyclamen 

 rather liberally, even when they have done 



