SPOT. 



482 SPRING FLOWER GARDEN. 



Spot. 



The disease which is known as " spot " is 

 considered to be constitutional, hereditary, 

 and infectious. It may also be induced by 

 any or all of the following causes : Im- 

 perfect drainage ; the use of crude and 

 not sufficiently decomposed manure or 

 leaf mould ; the presence of oxide of iron 

 in the soil ; sudden dfaughts of cold air ; 

 using water for the plants much colder than 

 the temperature in which they grow ; 

 allowing the sun to shine on the foliage, so 

 as considerably to raise the temperature of 

 the house previous to the admission of air 

 in the morning ; permitting the drops of 

 cold condensed vapour to drop from the 

 roof on the same leaf, or part of a leaf, for 

 days, perhaps weeks together ; over-water- 

 ing ; using too strong manure water ; not 

 giving water enough, or dropping water on 

 the leaves ; escape of gas from flues ; care- 

 less fumigation and excess of moisture in 

 the atmosphere of the house, especially if 

 it is cold and close ; and, in fine, anything 

 and everything that tends to check the free 

 current of the sap through root or branches, 

 may produce, and always intensifies, the 

 destructive energy of this disease. By 

 carefully avoiding all these causes, the 

 probability is, that you will never be 

 troubled by the spot, and it is certain that 

 your care will be rewarded by healthy and 

 beautiful plants. 



Spring Flower Garden. 



To those who wish to know how a rich 

 floral display can be maintained from the 

 blossoming of the snowdrop till the plant- 

 ing out of geraniums and verbenas, the fol- 



flowers which are willing to display them- 

 selves to the doubtful advances of the 

 March and April sun, whose rich and 

 lowing colours are not outrivalled by 

 those which flaunt themselves in the full 

 fire of the solstitial rays, and which pos- 

 sesses a grace and elegance peculiarly their 

 own. 



" Amongst the many showy plants 

 which, if properly treated, will fill the 

 parterre with beauty during the spring 

 months, in addition to annuals, we may 

 name tulips, hyacinths, crocus, winter 

 acanites, snowdrops, scillas, narcissus, 

 dog's-tooth violets, anemones, ranunculus, 

 &c. ; so that neither upon the score of 

 difficult management, interference with 

 subsequent occupants of the beds, nor 

 cost, is there sufficient ground for leaving 

 the garden during so many months bare 

 and unattractive, with the dull soil and 

 unrelieved masses of evergreens repelling 

 by their sombreness and monotony. 



" From January, when the snowdrop 

 and winter aconite timidly offer their 

 simple charms to our gaze, until May, 

 when the ranunculus and anemone are 

 ready to make way for the plants then fit 

 for bedding out, the whole tribe of spring- 

 flowering bulbs are waiting to delight us 

 with their choice and varied beauties. At 

 a singularly small cost and with very 

 simple treatment, they offer a means of 

 decoration which in exquisite effect can- 

 not be surpassed at any season of the 

 year. 



" To secure a fine spring display from 

 bulbs, it is necessary that the most suitable 

 sorts for the purpose should be selected ; 



lowing remarks by an intelligent gardener the ground, moreover, must be properly 

 are recommended : | prepared, and the bulbs planted in Novem- 



" There is literally no reason why every ber, or as early as convenient. Having 

 possessor of a garden should not have it given in our lists cultural directions for 

 yielding him as much beauty and enjoy- j each section of bulbs, we need not repeal 

 ment during the early months of the year | them here. We would, however, o)>ser\ r 

 as in summer and autumn. There are I that ground to be planted with Uuli^ 



