22 



FEBEUABY — TEIBD WEEK. 



T HIED WEEK. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONSEEVATOEY. 



The plants occupying the beds in the conservatory to 

 be arranged, cleaned, and pruned. If the health or habit 

 of a plant, or other considerations, should render it de- 

 sirable to prolong the season of blooming, the pruning 

 may be postponed for a week or two longer. Continue 

 to pot Cinerarias, Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, and all 

 other such plants when they fill their pots with roots. 

 To be then kept close for some days until fresh root- 

 action begins. Green fly to be kept down. 



Veebenas. — Put them in heat, to get cuttings ; as also 

 Heliotropes, and all other such plants, of which there is 

 a scarcity, for bedding-out purposes. 



STOVE AND 0BCHID-H0T7SE. 



Increase the moisture and temperature gradually as v 

 the days lengthen. Start old and young plants of Ciero- 

 dendrons, Dipladenias, and Stephanotis,in a sweet bottom 

 heat. Rondeletias to be cut in, and started in the same 

 manner. 



Shift all Orchids that are starting into growth. As a 

 high temperature causes a premature and unhealthy 

 growth it is advisable to keep up a healthy atmosphere 

 of from 55° to 65°, with an increase of a few degrees in 

 sunshiny weather, when a little air, if only for a very 

 short time, should be admitted ; but be careful to avoid 

 draughts at this early period of the year. All growing 

 plants to be watered at the roots only, being careful not 

 to allow any water to lodge in the axils of the leaves 

 to cause decay. To preserve the roots of some Orchids 

 in a healthy state it is necessary to grow them on blocks 

 of wood ; the blocks to be made proportionate to the 

 specimens they are intended to bear ; and the heel of the 

 plant to be placed close to the end of the log, to give as 

 much space as possible for the plant to grow upon. The 

 following thrive well on blocks without moss : — Barlceria 

 spectabilis, Leptotes bicolor, Phalcenopsis amabilis, and 

 Sophronitis cernua, the Brassavolas, the Cattleyas, nearly 

 all the dwarf Epidendrums, all the Lsslias, and nearly 



