CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



easily replaced, and they were too ornamental to 

 be relinquished. Then followed the white lily, 

 and a variety of irises, all of which increased fast, 

 and flowered abundantly. The peony I could 

 never persuade to flower. My buddlea was every 

 spring covered with its golden balls, and grew so 

 quickly that I scarcely knew what to do with it. 

 I am surprised this beautiful shrub is not more 

 common. The magnolia grows quickly and 

 flowers abundantly in the city upon a south wall ; 

 and the arbutus is not at all particular with 

 respect to situation. The Bignonia grandiflora 

 also does not withhold its scarlet trumpet-like 

 blossoms in the immediate vicinity of a steam- 

 engine. To return to my garden, the glory of 

 which in the autumn was the Lobelia fulgens ; I 

 managed it thus : I sank in the ground up to the 

 rim, a large and deep seed-pan ; this I filled to 

 about three-quarters of its depth with rich soil, 

 properly, mixed, and planted my roots. As soon 

 as the shoots appeared, I supplied them plentifully 

 with water, and from time to time added more 

 soil. The sweet-scented marvel of Peru thrived 

 well with me, and the tiger-flower also. Carnations 

 and picotees I tried one year, but was so much 

 disappointed in the result that I gave them up, 

 although very reluctantly, as I believe carnations 

 do not require a very pure air ; and I have fancied 

 since that my failure with them arose from some 

 other cause than the smoky atmosphere. Dahlias 

 also I gave up. The Amaryllis lutea flowered 

 well with me when once established, and the 

 Hemerocallis caerulea and flava did the same.' 



In addition to the forenamed, the ' London 

 pride,' and several other free-growing, evergreen 

 saxifrages, are highly suitable herbaceous plants 

 for the flower-borders of town-gardens, as are also 

 some of the stone-crops, house-leeks, green and 

 golden ' Creeping Jenny,' common and major 

 periwinkles, &c. ; while among evergreen shrubs, 

 the now numerous varieties of aucuba all succeed 

 well, as do most of the free-growing varieties of 

 the holly, and a number of the more robust-growing 

 rhododendrons. For covering town walls, most of 

 the many variegated and green ivies will be found 

 useful, as are also different species of cotoniasters, 

 and several of the recently introduced large- 

 flowered clematises, Japanese ampelopsis, the 

 winter-blooming Chinese jasmine, and some of 

 the most vigorous hybrid roses. 



FLORICULTURAL MONTHLY CALENDAR. 



January,. In open and dry weather, make the walks, plots, and 

 borders neat. Propagate, by division of roots, daisies and thrift ; 

 protect the beds of hyacinths, anemones, ranunculuses, and tulips, 

 by a covering of coarse litter. Top-dress auriculas, using a com- 

 post of light loam and two-year-old cow-dung, mixed with a twelfth 

 each of sea or river sand. Sow mignonette, stocks, and other 

 half-hardy annuals, in heat. 



February. Attend to the foregoing general directions ; cut turf 

 for lawns ; fork and clean the flower-borders. Plant anemones 

 and perennial herbaceous roots ; and transfer others, dividing the 

 crowns, to multiply the species, such as the primrose, single and 

 double, and the polyanthus. Transplant carnations, also the 

 divided roots of campanula, lobelia, lychnis, mulepink, and Dian- 

 thus sinensis. Sow, in mild heat, any annual flower-seeds, and 

 auriculas and mimuli, in boxes or pans. Excite choice dahlia- 

 roots, placing them in hotbed frames, or in troughs or pots of old 

 tan, or any light moist substance, on the floor of a stove or vinery 

 at work. 



March. Sow, under glass, tender annuals, including balsam- 

 seed, collected from the best double flowers. Plant box-edgings ; 

 also shrubs of every description. Transplant autumn-sown 

 576 



annuals, and protect them till fresh-rooted ; as clarkia of every 

 kind, mignonette, schizanthus, &c. ; and sow, under glass, stocks, 

 China aster, clarkia, dahlia, campanula, larkspur, pentstemon, 

 amaranthus, tobacco, and all the hardy annuals. Take cuttings of 

 hydrangea from the tops of the shoots ; these, if the buds be full, 

 sometimes will produce a fine flower-head, and the effect is 

 striking. 



April. Pjant evergreens, gladioluses, hollyhocks, carnations, 

 and other biennials and perennials, for flowering ; at this season 

 every herbaceous plant is almost certain to succeed. Propagate, 

 by cuttings, salvias, verbenas, rockets, and fuchsias. Divide 

 the roots of dahlias, either retaining one single tuber with a 

 sprouting eye, or twist out very cautiously a single shoot, so as to 

 detach it from the base, planting it in the smallest pot of sand 

 and leaf-mould ; a gentle hotbed will facilitate the protrusion of 

 roots ; Sow most of the hardy annuals hi the open ground ; as also- 

 pansies and most others in pots. 



May. This is the season to stock the flower-garden with those 

 plants which have been prepared during autumn, winter, and 

 spring ; and therefore transfer, from the propagation-pots, annuals 

 raised in them, by lifting the whole mass, and depositing it in a 

 spot prepared in the border : thus trouble and loss of time are- 

 obviated. Sow annual seeds in the open ground for succession. 

 Plant the parterres with groups of fuchsia, calceolaria, petunia, 

 verbena ; and at the latter end, form masses of the scarlet and 

 variegated geraniums, as well as of the stage and fancy varieties. 

 Propagate, by cuttings, China-roses of every kind, planting them 

 two joints deep, in a shady situation ; also calceolarias of the 

 shrubby kind, Peruvian heliotrope, &c. Propagate, by slips, 

 lychnis, double rocket, pansies, and wallflower; thin out the 

 superabundant shoots of perennial asters, antirrhinums, pent- 

 stemons, phlox, and all luxuriant herbaceous plants. 



June. Propagate, as during the last month. Plant young side- 

 shoots of hardy lobelias, in shady borders, under a hand-glass. 

 The pipings of pinks, placed in sandy earth, are to be closely 

 covered in the same *vay, till completely rooted. Greenhouse 

 plants may now be arranged in a north aspect ; the pots to stand 

 on a deep stratum of coal-ashes. Azaleas, Acacia armata, heaths, 

 rhododendrons, and such plants, are greatly improved by being 

 turned out of pots, and planted with die entire balls in an open 

 peat-border. 



July. Bud roses on wild stocks. A pretty effect is produced 

 by inserting one or two buds of the deep-red China in the common. 

 China-rose ; the different tints of the two roses are very pleasing. 

 Propagate, by cuttings, the Chinese azaleas, half-shrubby calceo- 

 larias, linums, pelargoniums, fuchsias, myrtles, and other exotic 

 shrubs. Layer carnations in sandy earth ; peg them near the 

 incision with hooks of fern-fronds. Sow mignonette in small pots 

 for winter ; also annual flower-seeds for bloom in September. 



August. Bud roses as before. Plant seedling herbaceous- 

 plants ; repot auriculas, removing the suckers, and detach the 

 black ends of old roots with the finger and thumb. Sow the seeds- 

 of annuals and pansies. Take cuttings of all the fine pelargoniums 

 that are out of flower early in the month ; also of calceolarias, 

 shrubby and half-shrubby ; and of antirrhinums, pentstemons, 

 which require no heat, but should be placed in a cold frame. 



September. Plant the crocus and other early bulbs. Trans- 

 plant herbaceous perennials and pinks to permanent beds, if per- 

 fectly rooted. Propagate, by cuttings, China-roses in the open, 

 borders ; also petunias, heliotrope, salvias, geraniums, calceolarias, 

 &c. ; they require only a hand-glass and light soil, or slight 

 bottom-heat Sow auricula seeds in pans in the greenhouse ; also- 

 clarkia, collinsia, and other annuals, to be preserved in pots all 

 winter. If the pyramidal campanula be out of flower, take up one 

 of the finest roots ; break it to pieces, and half-filling a large pot 

 with loam, place the pieces on the earth, fill the pot with loam, 

 and keep it merely protected from frost all winter. Raise every 

 geranium or other greenhouse plant now in open ground, and re- 

 pot in soil suitable to each. Cut back to low buds the scarlet and 

 other geraniums, and place all the plants under glass, to recover 

 from the removal ; make cuttings of the best amputated shoots of 

 geranium. Gradually diminish the watering of all greenhouse 

 plants. 



October. Plant, towards the end of the month, bulbs of the 

 hyacinth, narcissus, and tulip, the common jonquil, and daffodil, 

 and common anemone roots, &c. ; also shrubs of every description. 

 Hyacinths, in pots, filled with a compost of light loam, sand, and 

 vegetable earth, should be plunged to the rims in ashes, or light 

 earth, under the glass of a cold frame ; and when the plants begin 

 to grow, the pots should be raised, cleaned, and placed in the 

 greenhouse. Greenhouse plants must now be taken in, and gradu- 

 ally inured to winter treatment, by the free admission of air and 

 abatement of water. 



November. Plant all bulbs, employing much sand about and 

 above the bulbs. Protect fuchsias, if frost threaten. Screened 

 leaves form the best substance to be placed as mulch. Dahlias 

 should be taken up in airy and dry weather, when quite dry and 

 clean : preserve the tubers in well-dried sand. 



December. Protect beds of tulips, hyacinths, and other choice 

 bulbs or roots, with a layer of sawdust mixed with sand, or with 

 ashes. Sawdust alone has been found the most effectual protector 

 to the roots of potted plants in frames, the pots being plunged in 

 it to the brims. If dry weather permit, lightly fork the surface of 

 plots and borders ; if it be frosty, scatter some light manures around 

 the stems of roses and the more tender shrubs. 



