16 



f CALENDAR OF GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 



Shift Pelargoniums into their flowering pots, for which the soil should be a 

 rich porous one for most sorts, and for the more delicate, a mixture of loam, 

 peat, and sand, with plenty of drainers. 



After potting, they ought to be placed on the stages rather thin, and as near 

 the glass as possible, they should also be turned round at least once a week to 

 prevent them growing towards the front of the houses. 



Dahlias must be put into heat, to cause them to push shoots, either for 

 dividing, or for making cuttings. 



Many plants will now require shifting in the pothouse, greenhouse, and cold 

 frame. 



Shift hardy alpines in pots, that commence growing early, particularly Pin- 

 guiculas, which, with this genus, must be done before vegetation commences, 

 otherwise they are almost sure to perish. 



Pot bulbs of Tigridias, Cypellas, &c, to forward for transplanting into the 

 open ground in May or June. 



Divide the more robust herbaceous plants, and if an increase is not wanted, 

 reduce them in size. Asters, Helianthuses, Veronicas, or the more delicate sorts 

 of these genuses, should not be disturbed until the beginning of April (which 

 indeed is the best time for dividing all sorts), but where the collection is extensive 

 it is better to get the work forward. 



Sow seeds of Balsams, Cockscombs, Globes, Capsicums, and other tender 

 annuals, in pots, and plunge them into a warm hotbed ; also sow half-hardy 

 annuals upon a gentle hotbed, covering with mats during the night, and occasion- 

 ally during the day in severe weather. The bed may be hooped over with 

 willow or hazel rods, to keep the mats off the plants. They will be fit for trans- 

 planting out in May and June. 



Make the first general sowing of hardy annuals this month, others for succes- 

 sion next month. 



This is a good season for putting in cuttings of Verbena Tweediana, Incisa, 

 Chamaedrifolia, Pulchella, &c, to make plants for turning out into beds in the 

 open ground in May or June. The cuttings ought to be taken from the youngest 

 shoots, and if placed in a bottom heat will frequently take root in about a week. 

 The cuttings should be struck in sand, or light sandy soil, and transplanted 

 either single, or several round the sides of the pot. 



Salvia fulgens may at this time be propagated by cuttings, for transplanting 

 into the borders in May or June. 



Lobelia propinqua, speciosa, fulgens, splendens, and cardinalis, may be 

 divided and planted into single pots, to forward them previous to their removal 

 into the open ground. 



All Calceolarias, whether suffruticose or herbaceous, strike readily from cuttings 

 until the latter end of April, after which time they are very tardy in rooting. 



Cover sea kale in order to keep up a succession to that previously covered in 

 February. ' 



