8 JANUARY FLOWER GARDEN. 



if not done last month ; after separating the offsets 

 from them, they may be replanted at once, or kept 

 out of the ground till March or April. Cuttings of 

 all kinds may now be struck in cold frames Antir- 

 rhinums, Phloxes, Pentstemons, Alyssums, Dielytras, 

 &c. Layer Pinks, Carnations, and Picotees, and put 

 in pipings of the same, if not done last month. 

 Dahlias must be humoured as to cutting out and 

 tying, because every variety has its own peculiar style 

 of growth. Disbud freely all soft-eyed varieties, but 

 allow hard-eyed kinds to open all the blooms they 

 make until they come good. They will be greatly 

 benefited by being mulched with short, half-rotten 

 manure, and by being liberally supplied with water. 

 Hedges and edgings of all kinds should now be 

 clipped, and those of large leaved trees, such as 

 laurel, &c., ought to be cut back with a knife, as the 

 shears will spoil their appearance for the whole sea- 

 son. Rhododendrons and other hardy American 

 plants may be layered now. Beds of American plants 

 which are much exposed to the sun will be bene- 

 fited by being mulched. Chrysantheimims in the 

 open ground should be stopped again, and the soil 

 between them lightly pricked over with a fork and 

 some quite rotten dung worked in it. It will be found 

 that they always root near the surface, and a 

 dressing of dung will greatly help them. See that 

 they do not suffer from the want of water, as at this 

 season and for the succeeding month or two they are 

 very apt to do so. Cinerarias coming up in seed-pans 

 should be pricked out as soon as large enough to lift, 

 put into separate thumb pots, with light rich compost, 

 and placed in a cool frame. It is quite early enough 

 to sow seed now ; if raised too soon they aVe apt to 

 suffer from the excessive summer heats. By securing 

 a vigorous growth from the first they will be less 

 troubled with fly, and make fine specimens. Pansies 



