56 THE FLORIST* AND 



This and the next month will be the Cineraria season. There is much to 

 be done in improving this race. Watch for the best flowers for seed; those 

 which have two colors at least, broad petals, and regularity of outline— s and 

 save especially for seed the first floivers that open. Dahlias about the end 

 of the month may be started; the best plan for an amateur who does not 

 wish to raise a great quantity from one root, is to fasten on the labels se- 

 curely, then lay in the roots in any warm place where the temperature is 

 above 60 deg., side by side, covering them lightly with sandy 1 soil and keep- 

 ing them a little moist ; they will soon send up a quantity of eyes or shoots, 

 when the roots may be taken up and divided so as to have a portion of root 

 with each shoot ; when, potted in small pots and placed in a close warm place, 

 they will soon make good strong plants. 



So much has been said in this journal on Heaths and Australian plants 

 generally, that although this is their most interesting period, I will do no 

 more than refer to them. 



Hot-House. — As the season becomes warm, more air is necessary ; when- 

 ever giving air does not cause the temperature to fall below 65 it ought to be 

 freely admitted. Every evening before closing up for the night the syringe 

 should be used freely; the object gained is the prevention of great evapora-* 

 tion for a time, the roots in the mean time continuing to absorb moisture 

 from the soil the plant is better able to withstand the great drain upon it 

 caused by giving air and bright sunshine. I always also make a practice of 

 sprinkling water on the paths and stages before giving air, and find great 

 advantage result therefrom. 



Vegetable Garden. — Having decided on what crops are to be in each 

 portion of ground, and what others are to come into rotation after them, pro- 

 ceed with getting the soil manured and dug at every opportunity. Peas 

 should be attended to first ; the warmest aspect will of course produce them 

 earliest — it is a first rate system to sow Peas where Celery is intended to 

 follow, which, being well manured, will produce an excellent crop of Onions- 

 the following season. The Prince Albert is so far the earliest and best, next 

 the Early May, or extra early. AVhere new Asparagus beds are to be made 

 now is the time ; the ground should be rather moist than dry, and be trenched 

 two feet deep, mixing in with it a good quantity of stable dung, and, if the 

 ground be inclining to sand, add some salt ; the beds should be marked out 

 four feet wide, and the alleys about two feet. If pegs are driven down at 

 the corners of the beds permanently, they will assist operations in future 

 years. Having marked the positions of the beds and procured a stock of 

 two year old plants, place them on the soil nine inches apart in rows one foot 

 asunder, making three rows in each bed ; then cover the whole with soil from 

 the alleys and rich compost a couple of inches. 



