General Notices. 283 



would counteract the effect of all previous care. During bripht weather, 

 slight syringings morning and evening may be given immediately before 

 putting on the lights. They should not be too frequently watered, but, 

 when water is given, it should be in such quantity as will thoroughly pen- 

 etrate the soil, and run out at the bottoms of the pots. The soil in the pots 

 should be maintained in a condition to admit a free circulation both of air 

 and water, so that, when water is given, it may quickly disappear from the 

 surface, and make its way through the mass. They may remain in the 

 frames until the weather becomes too cold for them, when they must be 

 removed to the greenhouse or conservatory. — {Gard. and Land Steward^ s 

 Journal, 1847, p. 241 ) 



Thin^dng Annual Plants. — At this season, those who cultivate annual 

 flowering plants must be on the alert to afford a timely thinning, for, if 

 left in the crowded state in which they are sure to spring up, they will pre- 

 vent each other from attaining any ihing like an average degree of perfec- 

 tion. Much of the necessity of this operation may be obviated by sowing 

 the seeds moderately thin in the fir?t instance ; but, as in all cases it is nec- 

 essary to deposit more seeds than can be permitted to remain, if they vege- 

 tate, there will be many plants to remove. If they are of rare or valuable 

 species, they may be carefully taken up and transplanted into another part 

 of the garden : if they happen to be of those kinds which are not required 

 for such purpose, they should be pulled up, with reference only to the safety 

 of those which are intended to be left. The number of plants which should 

 be permitted to remain in a patch will vary according to the habits of the 

 species ; thus a large vigorous growing plant, of good habit, should stand 

 as a single plant, whilst any of a more straggling growth, two or three 

 should be retained, and those sufficiently near each other to form an outline 

 of perfect unity, but not so as to appear crowded. In the case of less vig- 

 orous growing plants, about three plants should be retained ; prostrate plants 

 must be regulated by a similar rule, according to the multiplicity or pau- 

 city of their branches. In taking up the plants which are removed, care 

 must be used that those remaining are not injured by the operation ; and, 

 that this may be the result, it should be do"e at as early a period as possi- 

 ble, that is, as soon as a few leaves are perfected. After thinning, more 

 than ordinary diligence must be used to prevent injury from the depreda- 

 tions of snails, slugs, &c. ; lime, from its caustic properties, is, perhaps, 

 the best preventive, as it is not at all injurious to the plants when applied 

 in moderation. The staking of the kinds of upright habit should also 

 be attended to at an early period, and those of suitable habits should be 

 pegged down to the soil, and will thus form very pleasing masses. — (/rf. 

 p. 255.) 



Pol Culture of the Vine. — From long experience, I have proved the fol- 

 lowing method of cultivating Vines in pots to answer most admirably. The 

 Black Hamburfjh is, perhaps, the best kind f .r pot-culture ; but 1 have also 

 found the While Frontignan and Musque Fronlignan (H) to succeed well ; 

 the latter sets its fruit best in the coolest part of the house. 1 prefer buds 

 from old spurs to any other. About the middle of January , the prunings are 



