FEBRUARY. 



FEBRUARY. 



being excepted, jasmines, clematises, and 

 other climbing plants may now be pruned 

 and trained. 



Snow on Trees, Shrubs , &*c. When a 

 heavy fall of snow occurs, dislodge it from 

 ornamental and flowering trees, shrubs, 

 &c., by shaking them with a rake or pole 

 like a clothes prop with a fork at the top, ' 

 to prevent them from getting broken by | 

 the superincumbent weight. 



Suckers. Rooted suckers, or rather j 

 suckers that can be taken from the mother 

 plant with a portion of root to it, may now 

 be removed from roses, lilacs, and other ; 

 shrubs, and transplanted so as to enter on ; 

 a separate existence. The larger ones may 

 be planted at once in the borders wher- 

 ever it may be intended for them to re- 

 main ; but the smaller ones should be 

 placed in rows in the nursery or reserve 

 garden, to make good strong plants in 

 about two years' time. 



FEBRUARY. 



Aspect and Character of 

 Month. 



The mean temperature of February is 

 nearly two degrees higher than January, 

 and the average number of frosty nights 

 is about eleven. Less rain falls this month 

 than in any other, and hoar-frosts at this 

 season generally precede it. 



February. Conservatory, 

 Work in. 



Here camellias, arums, epacrises, Salvia 

 splendens, Chinese primroses, a few heaths, 

 lachenalias, and perhaps forced lilacs, 

 azaleas, rhododendrons, hyacinths, nar- 

 cissuses, jonquils, crocuses, and other bulbs, 

 will now be either in flower or coming into 

 flower bud. Keep a night temperature of 

 from 40 to 45, allowing a rise of 10 with 

 sun heat. Unless during very severe frost 



or cutting winds, give air daily, if only for 

 an hour at noon, to change the atmosphere 

 of the house and dry up drip. 



Management of Conservatory. Prune 

 and destroy scale and other insects OH 

 climbers and other permanent plants. All 

 plants should be carefully examined before 

 they are introduced into this house, irt 

 order to prevent an importation of insects,, 

 as smoking with tobacco, or other insect- 

 destroying processes, are not only very 

 disagreeable, but are most inimical to the 

 beauty and long continuance of the flowers. 

 Examine, water, and top dress, if necessary, 

 any of the borders. Remove all plants- 

 back to their respective quarters as soon as- 

 their flowers fade, and introduce fresh 

 supplies from forcing pits, greenhouse, or 

 stove, and let no dead leaf, or flower, or 

 dirt of any description, be allowed to mar 

 the sense of delight which this house and 

 its occupants should ever be calculated to- 

 inspire. 



February. Flower Garden. 



Anemones, Ranunculuses. If not al- 

 ready planted, the planting should not be 

 longer deferred. Good soil is desirable for 

 ranunculuses, and it should be enriched by 

 the addition of well-rotted cow-dung. Ane- 

 mones do not require so rich a soil, but the 

 blooms will be all the finer if the ground 

 is well dressed with the same kind of 

 manure. 



Annuals, Transplanting. If the weather 

 continues mild, autumn-sown annuals may 

 be transplanted during the month ; from 

 2 inches to 4 inches square, according to- 

 the size and habits of the plants, will be 

 a proper distance apart. 



Bed and Borders, Treatment of. \Yhere 

 the beds are filled with shrubs in winter,, 

 they should be hoed deeply several times 

 during the month, to expose a fresh surface 

 to the air. Beds occupied with crocuses 

 and snowdrops should have the surface 



