XST) CONSEEVATOET. 257 



to soften the ball of earth, and allow water to pass through 

 freely. When this is not done in sprint, it often happens 

 that, having once got dry, the water never afterwards wets the 

 roots properly, but runs away down the sides of the pots, and 

 after languishing some time, the plants die altogether. Get 

 all store plants from cutting pans and boxes potted off. Start 

 old plants of bedders to get cuttings, and put in cuttings as 

 soon as they can be taken, to have the bedders forward in 

 time to plant out strong. With the rise of the thermometer 

 there will be an increase of green fly, and plants with soft 

 leaves will be attacked first. Look to the under sides of the 

 leaves of the cinerarias, calceolarias, pelargoniums, &c., and, 

 if any fly, put the plants together in a box and fumigate, or 

 fill the house with smoke, and syringe next day. All hard- 

 wooded plants coming into leaf to be freely syringed. Temp. 

 45° at night, 55° to 60° by day. Bottom-heat for cuttings, 

 60° to 70°. 



March. — Plants in bloom will require careful management 

 on account of the drying and trying east winds and bright 

 sunshine which occasionally occur at this time. Shading will 

 be of great service in these cases, and if the walks and beds are 

 frequently sprinkled there will be a genial moist atmosphere 

 in the house when the air outside is filled with " March dust." 

 This is a busy time with plant growers, and there must be no 

 delay in shifting on all subjects that require increased root- 

 room, for vegetation is now becoming active, and if plants 

 make new roots in old exhausted soil it impairs their vigour 

 and deteriorates their beauty. Pot Cape bulbs, liliums, 

 gladioli ; shift ericas ; start fuchsias, and take cuttings. Ca- 

 mellias done flowering to be started into growth in a moist 

 atmosphere and genial temperature. Give plenty of water, 

 alternating with liquid manure, to pelargoniums, calceolarias, 

 cinerarias, and other subjects advancing into bloom. Temp. 

 50° night, 60° to 65° day. 



Apeil. — General collections should only have a moderate 

 heat, and a strong healthy growth should be promoted by 

 giving plenty of air, with a view to putting out the fires for 

 the season. Many specimen plants will want liberal shifts, and 

 all subjects not immediately required in flower should be regu- 

 larly and frequently stopped, to induce bushy growth and form 



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