24 



MARCH. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Endeavour to make the most of this department by 

 a strict attention to neatness. Eemove all dead flowers 

 as soon as they appear ; gather seeds of al) kinds as 

 they ripen. Select the best varieties of China Aster 

 before they are out of flower ; throw away the in- 

 ferior ones at once, to prevent the possibility of mix- 

 ing. Calceolarias. The time has now come for the 

 wholesale propagation of this useful bedding and pot 

 plant. There is nothing more easy than to raise a 

 stock by means of cuttings. These should consist of 

 the shoots of the season which have not flowered, and 

 of which there are plenty in most cases now. Make 

 them in length about two inches each, removing one 

 or two leaves, so as to have enough bare stem to 

 thrust into the earth ; if dibbled an inch deep it will 

 be sufficient. The best way to treat them is to make 

 up beds in frames, the beds to consist of a mixture of 

 leaf-mould and light loam one part each, and one 

 part silver sand. Make the bed level, dibble the 

 cuttings two inches apart, then water with a fine rose, 

 and put on the lights. They will require no more 

 attention, with the exception of a little shading for the 

 first few days, if sunny, and should have air occasion- 

 ally to prevent mildew. When they begin to grow, 

 take away with the finger and thumb every other one, 

 and, after potting them, place them in the greenhouse, 

 leaving the remainder at four inches apart, to grow 

 into neat little plants for bedding out at the end of 



