114 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Fig. 2262. Chinese Primula. 



flowering-. In fact at no time should the 

 soil become quite dry, even during the sum- 

 mer resting period. Pick off all the seed 

 pods unless seed from them is required, as 

 the production of seed reduces the strength 

 and vitality of the corms or bulbs consid- 

 erably. 



Fuchsias. — These should be coming into 

 flower nicely now. A little shade, plenty of 

 water at the roots and a gentle syringing 

 every day will help fuchsias greatly. A 

 little fertilizer once a week will also help 

 them along. 



Azaleas. — Syringe azaleas every day when 

 they are out of flower. Water at the roots 

 must be given in sufficient quantities to 

 thoroughly moisten all the roots. 



Primulas. — Less water should be given 

 these plants when out of flower. The double 

 variety (Primula alba plena), as shown in the 

 engraving should be propagated as soon as 

 they are out of flower. Cuttings of this 

 useful variety strike readily in sand in a 

 shady position. This double variety of the 

 Chinese Primula is one of the best and most 

 satisfactory for an amateur grower. Like 

 all other primulas it delights in a well drained 

 soil, with a good ladmixture of leaf soil 

 added to rich loamy potting soil, as well as 

 a little sand mixed in. 



Annuals. — Seeds of these for early flower- 

 ing can be sown now. Better results will, 

 however, probably be obtained by sowing 

 them a month later. 



Bedding Stock. — Cuttings of coleus, ager- 

 atum, lobelia and all bedding out plants 

 should be taken now. Heliotrope and 

 abutilons strike readily now from tender 

 growth. One of the most valuable addi- 

 tions to the list of bedding plants recently is 

 the pretty dwarf growing Abutilon Savitzi. 

 Its bright silvery marked leaves and its 

 compact habit of growth promises to bring 

 this new variety into great popularity as a 

 bedding plant. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



March is a trying month for half-hardy 

 plant ' life out of doors. A light covering 

 of some protective material such as straw, 

 long manure, etc., will be found beneficial 

 to many plants laid bare by their winter 

 blanket of snow having been melted away 

 from them. A little protection row for a 

 few weeks will be more needed than earlier, 

 even though the frost may not be quite as 

 severe. 



Fig. 2263. Abutilon Savitzi. 



