THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



March they are pretty, and it is a point in their favour that 

 ^^31 they can be grown as annuals — that is, flowered in the 

 same year as they are sown. It is, however, desirable 

 to sow the seed in a warm house, or in a heated frame, 

 in order to get the plants started quickly. They can 

 be pricked out in boxes, like other seedlings raised 

 under glass, when they begin to get crowded, and 

 hardened in an unheated frame. 



Bulds after Flowering. — Some of the earlier bulbs, 

 such as Freesias and forced Narcissi, may be going out 

 of flower, and this should not be taken as the signal 

 for immediate drying off. On the contrary, the plants 

 should be watered until the foliage ripens naturally. 

 So far as the Narcissi are concerned they may be 

 planted out of doors, so as to get the use of the boxes 

 or pots in which they are growing, and to save the 

 necessity of regular watering. But the Freesias may 

 be kept in their pots until the warm weather comes, 

 then shaken free from the soil and spread on a shelf 

 in the full sun. The roasting will ripen them thoroughly, 

 and they will bloom well again the following winter. 



Insects in Plant Houses. — Increasing hordes of insects 

 now show themselves on various plants. The ubiquitous 

 green fly, which has powers of reproduction that surpass 

 the best efforts of our most prolific plants, attacks 

 Cinerarias, Tulips, Roses, and other popular plants. 

 The Aphis also establishes itself on Carnations, and 

 injures the leaves. Insects are apt to be a great worry 

 to amateur gardeners, who shrink from the tedious 

 work of cleansing individual plants. Let me assure them 

 that houses can be kept entirely free from those ex- 

 asperating little pests by a very simple plan, and that 

 is to make a rule of burning a vaporising cone in the 

 house once a fortnight. The operation takes very little 

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