580 PROPAGATOR'S CALENDAR. 



and order the necessary stock or such as may be required to fill vacancies. 

 Keep a sharp eye on the stock of bedding-plants, and begin propagating 

 in bright sunny weather. Seeds of Tagetes, Pyrethrum, Lobelia, and 

 ornamental Gourds may now be sown in heat, as also may those of 

 Lobelias, Verbenas, especially V. venosa, Pyrethrum, and tender annuals 

 for early flowering in pots or frames. Tree Peonies may now be grafted 

 in heat on pieces of the root of the common herbaceous kinds dug from the 

 open border. Roses may now be grafted either on the Manetti stock in 

 heat ; or scions of the best hybrid Perpetuals may be splice or whip grafted 

 on Wild-brier roots, and planted out at once on a sheltered border and 

 covered with sawdust, dry leaves, or other light mulching material, to pro- 

 tect them from severe frost and wet. This is a good time to dig Briers for 

 Rose stocks from the woods and hedges, after which trim carefully and plant 

 in rows two feet apart. Many hardy flowering shrubs and trees may now 

 be grafted either in heat or in the open air. This month is a very busy one 

 with sowing, planting, and other operations out of doors. In the nursery, 

 seeds of most hard-wooded trees may be sown, if not already in the 

 ground. Seedlings of Ash, Elm, Oak, Sycamore, &c., may be trans- 

 planted out of the seedling beds or drills into nursery lines ; and all kinds 

 of forest-trees may be put out into plantations during favourable weather. 

 Gather cones of the Pine tribe, which will now be generally ripe. 



Plant and Fruit Houses. Where heat is at command the propagator 

 ean sow seeds, strike cuttings, or graft successfully under glass at almost 

 any season, but when practicable the cold dark days of mid-winter should 

 be avoided as much as possible. During this month, however, when the 

 days begin to lengthen and light becomes more intense, nearly all stove 

 and greenhouse seeds may be sown on a genial bottom-heat. Tender 

 annuals, as Balsams, Cockscombs, Amaranthus, Rhodanthe, Acroclinium, 

 Calceolarias, Primulas, and Gloxinias may also now be sown. All kinds of 

 tender shrubs, such as Ixoras, Allamandas, Gardenias, Correas, Jasmines, 

 Ceonothus, Japanese Medlar, &c., may now be grafted on a gentle bottom- 

 heat, as also may Camellias, Azaleas, Daphnes, Tea-scented and other 

 Roses. Many rare or new Conifers may also now be grafted in heat, the 

 stocks being grown in pots for this purpose. Cuttings of Solanums, Wigan- 

 dias, Ficus, Senecio, Sonchus, and seeds of Chamsepuce, Amaranthus, 

 Perilla, Delphinium, and sub-tropical plants may now be sown. Vine- 

 eyes may now be prepared and planted either singly in pots or on turves 

 placed on a gentle bottom-heat. Leaf-cuttings of Begonias, Sempervi- 

 vums, Echeverias, and Pachyphytums may now be inserted in well-drained 

 pans of light soil surfaced with sand and placed on a shelf near the light. 

 The last batch of bulbs may now be planted for late blooming. Now is a 

 good time to prepare and insert root-cuttings of Aralia, Bouvardia, Cydonia 

 japonica, and other plants which do not succeed well otherwise. If it is 

 desirable to propagate any rare Conifers, flowering-shrubs, &c., and stocks 

 are not convenient, never forget that fibrous pieces of their own roots answer 

 perfectly well. 



FEBRUARY. 



Kitchen and Hardy-Fruit Garden. If not already done, seeds should 

 now be at once obtained. During dry, sunny weather, Peas and Spinach 

 may be sown in the warm borders, and Potatoes planted in frames. 

 Cabbage (both white and red varieties), Lettuce, Endive, Carrots, 

 Onions, Parsley, Parsnips, and Radishes may be sown on warm 

 borders. Capsicum, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Couve Tronchuda, 



