90 THE FLORIST AND 



Hot House. — I have before observed in these "hints," that there are few 

 tribes so useful for summer, fall and winter decoration of the houses as the 

 Begonia. Now is the season to propagate young plants ; as well, indeed, as 

 of Pentas carnea, Vincas, and other desirable autumn-blooming plants. — 

 Young shoots a few inches long of most things strike more readily now than 

 at any other season. Euphorbia jacquiniflora, and Poinsetta pulcherrima, 

 after they have done flowering, do well kept rather dry till May, when, if 

 they be turned out of their pots into a rich border in a warm spot, and pinched 

 in as they grow, will make splendid specimens, to be lifted again and potted 

 early in September. A few Achimenes and Gloxinias, as stated last month, 

 may still be started by being kept a little moist and in a warm temperature. 

 As soon as they begin to push, pick out the tubers, place them three or four 

 in 6-inch pots, in coarse turfy loam mixed with charcoal, broken about the 

 size of marbles, or half-decayed sticks. They will take an abundance of wa- 

 ter as soon as they start fairly into growth. 



Every opportunity should be taken to give an abundance of fresh air 

 avoiding cold currents and keeping the temperature about 55° by night and 

 65° by day, and using the syringe frequently morning and evening. These 

 last remarks especially apply to orchideas in a growing state. They require 

 less air and light than any other stove plants ; but even these are advanta- 

 geous to them, when they can be afforded without too much loss of moisture. 



Vegetable Gardex. — As soon as possible the earliest crops of Potatoes 



should be planted. After numerous trials with early varieties, I still adhere 



to the old walnut-leaved, and find none of them much earlier than the 



"Mercer." In Peas also, the Prince Albert and Extra Early still keep 



good characters. The remarks in last month's journal still require attention; 



and the earliest opportunities seized to get in the crops of Onions, Beets, 



Radishes, Lettuce, Cabbage, Parsley, Spinage, Salsify, and Early Horn 



Carrot. Where beds of Asparagus, Rhubarb, Horse Radish or any of these 



more permanent crops are to be made, they will be better for being put in 



as early in the season as possible. Where Asparagus is taken up for forcing, 



a quantity of seed should be sown every year to supply their place, if there 



be abundance of ground and time to attend to them. In other cases it is best 



to procure a quantity of three year old plants from the nurseries*as wanted, to 



supply deficiencies. Towards the end of the month a little of Seymour's 



Solid Celery may be sown on a slight hotbed for an early supply, though the 



main crop had better be deferred a few weeks. T. J. 



