^mateuk Cultivator's $|uide. 



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r.roS;' ' CaVeS ° r C0arS6 m!U1Ure ' 11,0 sllcce<;di "S vcnr they will blossom in great 



SPECIAL DIRECTIONS TO AMATEUR CULTIVATORS. 



I 



In addition to the preceding remarks, which are given a* the results of our own practice 

 formanyyear., and which we think, are adequate for all general pur^eTtt^Sg 



more Choice id new flowers enumerated in our Catalogue. If carefully followed it is 



6fflift5i£S. rem0V8 aJ cmises of faiIure in the iittei "^ to cui,ivate 53w ?nSr&S 



Zinnias may be treated precisely like the Aster. The double varieties, in eight distinct 

 colors, are superb ornaments ol the garden. b U1 °"" LL 



Kpacrises, Heaths, Azaleas, and Rhododendrons should be planted in boxes or 

 ffiAe eaXfirl^ f ^ ™lt ^dv '<>am, with a mS quan,^ of pea, 



Hake the earth firm ami g.ve a thorough watering before sowing. Cover the surface with 



qu.u in of hue sand. Plaoe the pans or boxes in the greenhouse where they cm be 

 wholly shaded from the mid-day sun, and lightly damp the furface whe, Iry The Tttint 

 plants will make their appearance in three" or four weeks; and. wl e? trV, ,g enough o 



Calceolarias Cinerarias, and Chinese Primrose require similar treatment. The 

 seeds ol the former are so minute, that they are liable to be destroyed bv covering : and 

 complaints are frequent of the failure to make the seed grow. If the following directions 

 are carefully observed, an abundance of plants may be easily raised: — 

 ^ The seed should be sown in pots prepared in the following manner: The pot to be half 

 filled with drainage; over that, rough sittings of the mould, and the surface covered with soil 

 as fine as possible, half of which should be Composed of silver sand. When prepared thus 

 it should be watered with a fine rose, immediately after which sow the seed carefully' 

 without any covering of soil. The pots should then be placed under a close frame or 

 hand-glass, m a shady part of the garden (no artificial heat being required). In laree 

 establishments, of course, they may have propagating or other houses that will do, where 

 the same kind of moist temperature could be obtained; but anv exposure to the sun must 

 he carelully guarded against by mats or paper. If the situation is of the proper tempera- 

 hire, they will require watering but very seldom. Directly the seedings are strong enough 

 they must be pricked off in pots prepared as before, and placed in the same situation. From 

 the store pots they will require to he potted off singly; after this thevwill grow very ran idlv 

 through the winter the plants will thrive well on the shelves near the glass in the green- 

 houses; and to obtain fine specimens, they must be shifted freely till the flower-stalks have 

 started, and should always be smoked with tobacco directly the green-flv appears as no 

 plants in cultivation so readily sutler from this insect as the Calceolaria. ' 



It is necessary to remark, that one of the most frequent causes of the appearance of these 

 injurious insects is thc plant becoming root-bound; to avoid which evil, it is important that 

 II should frequently be repotted during the growing season. 



Acacias of all kinds should hare (cabling water poured over thc seeds, and be allowed to 

 soak for twelve or twenty-four hours: they' should then he planted in pots, in light, rich 

 sandy soil, covering one-fourth of an inch deep, and placed in the hotbed or greenhouse. 



Globe Amnranth, I.inum, and Cypress-Vine seeds should be soaked in tepid water 

 for twelve hours, to insure a quick germination. Rub the seeds with a little dry sand when 

 ready for sowing. 



I. ilium* of all kinds should have their seed planted immediately they are gathered, if 

 possible, as they vegetate sooner. They remain good, however, for three or four years; but 

 when sown in spring, do not often vegetate until the second year. 



Cyclamens should be sown in the greenhouse or hotbed, in pans of light rich soil, well 

 drained transplant singly into pots, and keep them constantly growing the flint year. 



S'tochs of the winter-flowering varieties should be sown !*■ July, and pricked ofT singlj 

 into -mull po's, «hifting them as they require it, and keeping them'in cold frames its lone as 

 it can be safely done. 6 



Canna-Seeds have a hard, horny covering, and require to have the seed soaked in warm 

 water for ten or twelve hours, planting them in hotbed while the heat is brisk and strong. 

 1 ran«fer to th* open ground June 1st, and take up the roots before hard frosts, 

 (•loxinias and Archlmenes require to be grown in pots in the greenhouse, or a ,\arm 

 «ue. 1 he soil should be light ai d rich, — leaf-mould, loam, and sand. 



