114 THE FLORIST AND 



Fuchsias — that have been wintered in the cellar should now he 

 looked to; place them in a light situation and give them a good 

 watering to moisten all the soil thoroughly; when they begin to 

 grow prune out all decayed branches and repot them in fresh soil, 

 mixing it with a portion of charcoal ; this substance keeps the soil 

 from baking hard in the pots and in conjunction with good drainage 

 maintains a healthy medium for roots. 



Annuals. The cultivation of these have of late been somewhat 

 superseded by plants of a more permanent nature, as Verbenas, 

 Salvias, Petunias and such like. There are many persons that have 

 no accommodations for keeping them overwinter, such must have 

 recourse to annuals for a summer display of flowers, and a very 

 pretty display they make; they may be sown at once where they 

 are wanted, or, a surer method is to select a sheltered spot of ground, 

 dig it thoroughly and sow the seed in slight drills ; if you have a 

 spare sash of glass to lay over them and prevent heavy rains from 

 beating the soil, they will come up sooner; where there is no such 

 convenience a sprinkling of loose litter of any description will 

 answer the same purpose, taking care to remove it on the first ap- 

 pearance of vegetation, thin them out where too thick, and 

 transplant them to the borders at a, favorable raining opportunity. 



Geraniums coming into flower will require attention; stake them 

 out and give them enough water, do not keep them saturated, neither 

 must they droop for want of it, a medium between the two ex- 

 tremes must be maintained, otherwise the flowers will suffer. 



Dahlias will now be starting into growth, they may be planted 

 out, although it is rather early; a few inches of manure over the 

 tops will preserve them from slight frosts. 



Camellias and Azaleas that are growing should not be subjected 

 to cold currents of air until their growth is matured ; about the 

 end of June is soon enough to place them out of doors ; ignore 

 that system of setting every thing out of doors on the first appear- 

 ance of fine weather. Plants, although comparatively hardy, will 

 receive a severe check by being suddenly removed into the open air 

 while growing; even an oak tree would suffer from such treatment. 

 As the growths approach maturity they will set flower buds more 

 certainly by being placed out in the open air; attention to this par- 



