JANUARY 315 



knowledge and great facilities justify their practice. But we have es- 

 pecially in view the possibilities for an amateur, and of gardens mode- 

 rate in extent, where appliances may not be of the most perfect kind. 



When seeds are once sown or bulbs potted, the work is before 

 the cultivator, and appeals mutely for attention. Therefore it is 

 not our purpose to give detailed and continuous instructions month 

 by month for every flower. We shall limit our remarks to hints at 

 the time for sowing or planting, and to some few points which may 

 subsequently appear to demand notice. 



For convenience of reference, the subjects are arranged alpha- 

 betically under each month. 



JANUARY 



IN the open ground there is little or nothing of interest in the way of 

 flowers, but the greenhouses and pits are full of promise. A constant 

 watch must be kept upon the barometer, and the materials for re- 

 pelling frost or bleak winds should be at perfect command, so that 

 there may be ample provision for saving plants from biting weather. 



ACHIMENES are stove bulbs, which cannot be grown without 

 a sufficiency of heat. A warm greenhouse will answer for them, 

 and some gardeners produce fair specimens in frames over hot-beds. 

 The bulbs will lie dormant for a considerable time, so that it is easy 

 to have a succession of flowers. A few should be started now, em- 

 ploying sandy loam for the pots. Follow up with others at intervals. 



ANEMONE. See remarks under October. 



ANTIRRHINUMS raised in heat now will flower later in the year. 

 Pot off singly, and gradually harden for planting out in May. 

 There are dwarf, medium, and tall varieties, of many beautiful colours. 



CANNA. From the popular name of Indian Shot, it will natu- 

 rally be inferred that the seed is extremely hard and spherical. 

 It needs soaking in water for twelve hours before sowing. Even 

 then it will probably be a considerable time in germinating, and 

 there will also be longer or shorter intervals between the appear- 

 ance of the seedlings. A high temperature is necessary to insure 

 a start ; but after the young plants are transferred to single pots, 

 they should be kept steadily going in a more moderate heat until 

 ready for the border or sub-tropical garden in June. Meanwhile 

 they will need re-potting two or three times, and should have a 

 rich and rather stiff compost. 



