MARCH. 



4? 



L'Enfant Trotjye Eose. — " My object in sending you the two blooms was tbat you 

 might judge for yourself, and I am extremely gratified to find tbat you were so much pleased 

 with them. It stood the severity of last winter on a south wall without being protected.; and 

 from this same tree from which I sent you the flowers last Saturday, I shovdd say from five 

 to six dozen fine flowers were cut last June and July, so that it is a free bloomer. Its habit 

 is not very vigorous unless budded on a Banksia ; it then grows beautifully. I cut stems off 

 it as thick as a man's thumb, from a plant on an old Banksia." — B. "W. Cant. 



"L' Enfant Trcuve Rose arrived here (two blooms, one expanded and the other about to 

 expand) on the 3rd of November. The blooms had been snowed upon, but still they were 

 very fine. It appears to be a seedling from the Cloth of Gold, and is a very fine yellow 

 Rose ; as far as I could judge, the growth appeared to be vigorous. I had ordered four plants 

 before Mr. Cant sent me the blooms, but I have now requested him to send six. I hope it 

 may be of good constitution, which is the first point to look to. For so late a season of the 

 year, and considering that the blooms had been snowed upon, I consider it a Rose of great 

 substance and likely to hold a high place among our yellow Roses. I showed it to several 

 persons, who thought it splendid. I am incautious as regards myself, but I am very cautious 

 as regards the public, and therefore, till I have grown the Rose myself, I decline to advise 

 any one to buy. It is a rule with me to speak from personal experience." — W. F. Radclyite. 



The Chandelier oh Montagnon System oe Vine Training. — Specimens of "Vines 

 from France, trained on this system, were exhibited at South Kensington on the day of the 

 Autumn Exhibition. The Vines were many years old, and having been taken up with a 

 portion of their roots, presented a good example of the system. The Vines trained to a 

 single stem, were headed back at about 3 feet from the ground, and the three or four upper- 

 most eyes only allowed to break to form the head. The shoots from these eyes are trained 

 horizontally and cut back hard from year to year, forming a kind of flat-headed bush with a 

 single stem. The advantages of this system, which has been recommended for orchard-house 

 culture, consists of the Vines requiring no stakes, which is an important item in Vine 

 countries ; some of the heads were upwards of 3 feet in diameter. This, no doubt, is a 

 useful plan for open air culture. The pruning however, had not been very well managed ; 

 the middle of the head being deficient in fruit-spurs, which were principally round the 

 outside, and consequently the centre was naked — a defect which those who attempt the system 

 in orchard-house may remedy. On the whole, though an interesting mode of training, we 

 question its utility as the most economical. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 



Conservatory. 

 This house should now be exceedingly gay and in- 

 viting. In addition to the plants mentioned last 

 month, there will now be Roses, Lilacs, Deutzias, 

 "Weigelas. &c, which will help to increase the dis- 

 play. The sun heat will now be considerable in clear 

 weather ; abundance of air should therefore be given, 

 always, however, guarding against cold currents, 

 and always shutting up early in the afternoon. 

 Attend well to the watering, not merely wetting the 

 surface of the soil, but doing it effectually when it is 

 required. We cannot too often insist on this point. 

 Large Acacias and Camellias will be benefited by an 

 occasional watering with weak, clear, liquid manure. 

 Most of the permanent plants will now be starting 

 into fresh growth, they must be well attended to in 

 watering, and should be syringed on fine days. If the 

 weather continue mild there will not be any necessity 

 for fire heat. In case of frost, however, the tempe- 

 rature at night should not be allowed to get below 

 45°. Remove all plants as soon as the flowers begin 

 to die away, and when you introduce fresh ones 

 change the whole arrangement. Indeed, it is ad- 

 visable to vary the arrangement often. Keep every- 

 thing neat and orderly. 



Greenhouses. 

 These plants will now be fairly starting into fresh 

 growth, and should be encouraged by proper attention 

 t> all their wants. All plants rtquiring shifting 

 should at once be carefully potted. Top-dress those 

 that do not require shifting. Arrange and regulate 

 the shoots by tying-out, pruning or otherwise, so as 

 to form handsome specimens. After all the plants 



are potted, top-dressed, and fresh arranged, the 

 houses must be kept rather close for two or three 

 weeks, and m very fine weather the plants may be 

 occasionally syringed. They will not require much 

 water for ten or twelve days, it should then be done 

 effectually. Ventilate carefully. 



Stove. 



With the increase of light the temperature here 

 should be increased. Most of the plants will now be 

 on the move, and should be encouraged to make 

 healthy, vigorous growth. Such as were not. potted 

 last month, and that require shifting, should be im- 

 mediately attended to. Maintain a moist growing 

 atmosphere by sprinkling the paths, walls and pipes 

 with water, and by syringing on fine days. Be careful 

 in watering until the plants begin torootfreely into the 

 fresh soil. After active growth has commenced, and 

 healthy vigorous foliage is produced, liberal supplies 

 of water will become almost daily necessary. Start 

 a fresh lot of Gloxinias, Achimenes, Gesneras, &c. 



Flower Garden. 

 Finish the pruning of Roses, and then stir up the 

 ground about the plants with a fork. Divide and 

 plant herbaceous plants. Plant Carnations, Pansies, 

 and Hollyhocks. If the ground be dry towards the 

 end of the month, sow hardy annuals, biennials, and 

 perennials. Pot off the cuttings of bedding plants 

 put in last month. Cuttings of Verbenas and other 

 soft-wooded plants put in any time this month will 

 make good plants before "bedding-out time." 

 Pleasure Grounds.— The planting of deciduous trees 



