142 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE 
[Jaxvanv 29, 1887. 
circumstances and conditions. If during the summer 
the surface about the plants is slightly loosened with 
a fork—one is afraid to say a forking, lest some 
one should accept the advice too literally, and in 
doing so di soil too dee i 
to hit the happy mean, and make the soil moderately 
od. < 
Plants of the border kinds whether laced, fancy, 
or what not, are easily raised from seed, which may 
wn anywhere under glass, and if it suits the 
fancy at Christmas or at midsummer. In either case 
it will assuredly grow somewhere, provided the seed 
at the time of sowing is sound. The seedlings, let 
the kind be what it may, rarely gro they are 
indeed rather slowcoaches, showing something of the 
tortoise rate of speed—slow and sure. Now I, for 
March, 
house and fairly near the 
when the plant 3 
lifted and dibbled out into shallow boxes, nay even 
r. 
а very useful kind, and enables transplanting of this 
nature to be soon got over. 
Just one thing in relation to outdoor Auriculas 
merits attention—we want kinds producing bold 
well-coloured flowers, growing from stout erect 
stems. Many beautiful flowers are too modest, and 
blush or hang their heads before the gaze of man. 
It is in such cases that a little boldness becomes a 
virtue. A. D. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
BEDDING-OUT PLANTS. _ 
tock of bedding plants should be looked over 
n 
scratched over to rid them of moss, and to keep the 
soil sweet. Old Pelargoniums should be kept dry until 
they break, which they will do in a cool structure. 
as growth begins and a good 
watering should be given. 
_ The bulk of stove plants should be placed into a 
nice growing atmosphere, to induce a fresh growth, 
to yield a erop of cuttings. Preparation should also be 
made for propagating the same as soon as ready. The 
propagating-house should be well cl | 
age over the pipes looked to, and a good layer of saw- 
dust placed on the top t i 
d, the drain- 
those in the sand, and they do not sustain so much 
damage in the processs of potting. 
: PROPAGATION. 
_ Many people have not the convenience of a pro- 
to be had to a hot- 
agat » and 
bed.. А cartful of long horse manure, and three cart- 
fuls of leaves will make a capital bed for a two-light 
frame, Well mix the dung and leaves, throwing 
into a conical heap, and keeping them as loose and 
en as possible. Let the heap be twice turned at 
intervals of three days. er t s it wil 
be fit to make into a bed. 
evenly over the necessary space. Well tread as the 
work of building proceeds, to secure an equal sub- 
ce, and when finished place the frame on the 
top. Place about 6 inches of cocoa-nut fibre inside 
the box for the purpose of plunging the pots. 
A batch of single Dahlias for early flowering may 
now be sown, also a quantity of Hollyhock ; if these 
are grown on and well attended to, they will bloom 
nicely in autumn. ood strains are now to be 
had of this stately plant. Out of a large packet last 
A packet of Verbena venosa should now be sown 
for early blooming. This is a plant which is 
not sufficiently appreciated, certainly not so much 
as it deserves tobe. Planted with Cinereria maritima, 
or silver-leaved Pelargoniums, it makes ac i ; 
combination. It may be struck from eyes of the | 
fleshy roots. If these were saved, sometimes they 
remain quite fresh in the beds all winter, if the frost 
has not been too severe, 
SEED SOWING. 
A good pinch of the various kinds of Foxgloves may 
also be sown in heat. Where there are large 
be filled at а considerable distance from the walks, 
Fic. 32.—cATASETUM BUNGEROTHII, TO SHOW HABIT. (SEE р. 139.) 
year there was not one that had single flowers 
amongst a hundred which were kept. 
Ovr-or-poons OPERATIONS. 
j SUME season of the year has to come yet, when the 
solar heat returns, but s morning frosts are fre- 
quent, often accompanied by keen cutting winds, 
these are the most effective plants for the purpose I 
know. Where blanks are found i nd gladés, 
осК. If once they are sown, and the seed 
allowed to mature, they will soon cover every inch of 
vacant space, and repay the little trouble expended 
on them with glorious results. 
PLANTING SHRUBS, &c. 
As soon as the ground is again in workable con- 
dition, the planting operations which were stopped 
by the late storm should be resumed, as wel 
the formation of lawns, walks, laying of Box; of 
e d w allow EU 
all those operations proceeding more rap! . 
Newly planted trees and shrubs should receive 
good mulching of any loose material over the PES 
E Ы И з "P У 
VIVE VE 
