Jan,] 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



845 



till the end of February or March. Crocuses and snow- 

 drops may also be planted, either in beds, arranging the co- 

 lours, so as to produce effect, if in beds, or they may be planted 

 for temporary edgings, or in patches, of ten or twelve roots 

 each, by the sides of the walks, or under the shade of trees 

 and shrubs, where almost nothing else would grow. The 

 more common kinds of narcissuses, crocuses, and snow-drops, 

 together with Winter Aconite, EranPkis hyemalis^ Helleborus 

 nigra^ H. IhiduSy and H. atro-rubens, will give relief to the 

 gloom and dead appearance of the grove in winter, and give 

 rise to pleasing associations in the shrubbery. These may 

 be now planted, and if once introduced into the shaded parts 

 of the pleasure-ground, will not readily be lost. 



FORCING FLOWERS. 



Many flowers may be brought to perfection for the drawing- 

 room, &c., with little trouble or expence at this early part of 

 the season, either forced in pits, or placed in any of the 

 forcing-houses now at work. For this purpose, it is necessary 

 to have a stock potted, or reared in pots in autumn, and pro- 

 tected during winter until such time as they may be wanted. 

 The sorts most generally chosen for this purpose are Cape 

 Jasmine Gardenia floriday G. radicans, carnations, mig- 

 nionette, double-flowering peach, double-flowering cherry, 

 pinks, double rockets, violets, Viola odorata var. pallido 

 plena, &c. ; wall-flower Cheiranihus Cheiri flora pie no, &c.; 

 roses of sorts, Amaryllis of sorts, hyacinths, Persian and 

 common lilac, narcissus of sorts, Heliotropium peruvianunii 

 and many others which are found to perfect their flowers 

 from this time until they expand in the open air. 



Many bulbous plants may be flowered to great perfection, 

 particularly hyacinths, narcissuses, and tulips, by placing 

 them upon bulb-glasses, which glasses should be filled with 

 soft-water, and the bulb so placed that their bottoms only 

 should touch the water. These, if placed in any of the forc- 

 ing-houses at work, or other warm situation, will readily come 

 into bloom. They will soon shoot their roots into the water, 

 which should be changed for them every day. 



