THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [No. 11 



warmth be given, but the usual temperature of the greenhouse will 

 bring them forward a month before they can be had out of doors ; 

 whenever the roots make their appearance through the bottom of the 

 pots, they should be shifted into a size larger. They require very lit- 

 tle water and love the light, and whatever manures are used to en- 

 rich the soil should be thoroughly rotten. The Pansy, on the other 

 hand, delights in half-rotten, strawy manure, and turfy loam. If a 

 quantity of seedlings have been raised in the fall, they will require 

 potting this month; they do not flower well here when the weather, 

 becomes warm ; but when grown in pots and forwarded slightly by 

 the aid of a cool frame, they do very well. 



The Cinerarias will be soon the chief attraction; the least frost kills 

 them, yet they will not do well if kept in a high temperature. They 

 love moisture, yet are very impatient of damp. No plant is more im- 

 proved by the use of charcoal in potting than this. This plant bids fair 

 to become more popular than ever, as supplying a very early spring 

 want. The Calceolaria will require the same conditions as the Cine- 

 raria. 



Pelargoniums become "drawn," spindly, and worthless, if they 

 are not allowed to occupy the lightest and most airy part of the 

 house. If fine specimens are desired, the shoots should now be tied 

 down to the surface of the pots and pinched off so as to induce them 

 to shoot freely ; but avoid a too frequent use of the "finger and 

 thumb" — nothing renders a Pelargonium weaker, rather encourage 

 them to grow bushy, by the free use of light air, and manure water. 

 A good supply of young Fuchsias should be coming on now — repot 

 as their roots fill each pot, let them not want for moisture or light, do 

 not pinch off their tops, but let them grow rapidly. The temperature 

 in which they are grown should not exceed 55°. A turfy loam, mo- 

 derately enriched with well-decayed manure and well drained with 

 charcoal suits them admirably. The JUimulus is receiving more at- 

 tention than it has been — where they are grown they are much im- 

 proved by having pans of water kept under their pots. Oranges and 

 lemons will require the coolest part of the house, and to receive no 

 more water than will just keep them fresh. Epiph^llums as they 

 continue to flower will require the warmest end of the house, and a 

 fair supply of moisture. Cacti and succulent plants generally will 

 scarcely require water at all, unless in very diy situations, and then 

 receive but a slight sprinkling with a syringe. The rule "when you 

 water a plant at all, let it soak right through" does not by any means 

 hold good with these plants, if there be not some other good excep- 

 tions. 

 ^ Vegetable Garden. Very little can be done now in this depart- 



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