CALENDAE.] 



PEACTICE OF HOKTICULTUEE. 



[calendar. 



magnificence of its appearance. The plant 

 succeeds best in an open situation, and in neb, 

 deep loam; but there is hardly any garden 

 soil in which it will not thrive with manure. 

 Dahlias, however, should not be repeatedly 

 planted in the same spot ; and they generally 

 flower till checked in autumn by the frost. 

 The roots are then taken up, dried, and stored 

 in a cellar, or some other place, where they 

 may be secured from frost and moisture. 

 Old roots often throw up numerous stems, 

 which render thinning necessary. 



OTHER FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 

 It would lead us greatly into detail to speak 

 fully upon Calceolaria, Chelone, Phlox, Pen- 

 testemon, Pansies, Eoses, Cinararias, Lobelias, 

 Verbenas, Chrysanthemums, Picotees, Holly- 

 hocks, Fuchsia, Petunia, &c., notwithstanding 

 all of them enter into the category of florists' 

 flowers. We may observe, however, that the 

 Auricula is a native of the Alps and the Cau- 

 casus ; that the Polyanthus is supposed to be 

 a seminal variety of Primula Vulgaris ; that 

 the Carnation is a native of Germany ; and 

 that the Pink is merely one of its varieties. 

 These are all favourites of the garden ; more 

 especially the Carnation, not only on account 

 of the delightful fragrance of its blossoms, 

 but also for the beauty it possesses. 



CALENDAR. 

 Januaet. 



Fruit Garden. — Open weather in autumn is 

 the proper season for planting ; but if it has 

 not then been done, do it now, watching over 

 the roots to protect them from any draughts 

 which may occur in spring. All sorts of 

 fruit trees should, in mild weather, be pruned ; 

 nailing only in fine weather. Any trees which 

 may be infested with insects, should be washed 

 with tobacco liquor, or with soapsuds and 

 flower of sulphur. 



Forcing Department. — Shrubs to be forced 

 should bo taken to the green-liouse or to a 

 warm pit first, to prepare them, and their 

 roots thoroughly soaked, as they are often very 

 dry ; see also that they are not heavily laden 

 with flower-buds, and that they are in proper 

 trim as to training, &c. Hard- wooded plants 

 must have fire-heat during frosty weather ; but 

 it must not rise above 40° at night, and 50° by 

 986 



day. Soft-wooded plants may be kept growing 

 freely, but not at high temperatures. 



Kitchen Garden. — Sowing of peas, beana, 

 two-bladed onions, coUards, York cabbage, 

 h"orn carrot, and parsneps, may, at any time, 

 be made this month. There is, of course, a 

 certain amount of risk in early sowing ; but in 

 mild and tolerably dry seasons, there is suf- 

 ficient compensation for losses at other times 

 in the earlier production or increased bulk 

 and excellence of the crop. Ehubarbj in the 

 open ground, may be forwarded by covering 

 the crowns with sea-kale pots, or a lot of old 

 boxes. 



Flotoer Garden. — Evergreens should not 

 now be planted, but deciduous trees may 

 be, during open weather. It is a good time 

 to make alterations, and to stack up turf, 

 and mix composts. Tulips and hyacinths 

 require protection from severe frost, but must 

 be allowed as much air and exposure as pos- 

 sible. Those in beds, exposed to the morning 

 sun, should be watered with cold water very 

 early, when the foliage has been frozen in the 

 night. Prepare beds for anemones and ranun- 

 culuses. Eoses may be planted, and after 

 planting, layed out on a heavy mulch of half- 

 rotten dung. 



Febefaet. 



Fruit Garden. — Vines should be pruned, 

 and laid in. This should be done only with 

 the ripest of last year's shoots, at a distance 

 of about eighteen inches from each other, and 

 not more than four eyes in length. The walla 

 should be cleared, and the plants nailed up 

 firmly, making use of as narrow shreds as 

 possible. Netting for espalier and wall 

 trees should be prepared, and employed when- 

 ever the buds begin to swell, especially if 

 north-west winds prevail. If strawberry 

 beds be early formed this month, on rich firm 

 ground, they are likely to bear well. Bush 

 fruits should be planted and pruned. Grafting, 

 if the weather be favourable, should be begun ; 

 and scions put into the earth in bunches, 

 with a tally to each, will keep a month, if 

 necessary, and take better than if put on a3 

 soon as cut. 



Forcing Department. — Fire-heat may be 

 used more liberally now; and cinerarias, 

 primulas, and other soft-wooded, early bloom- 



