JANUARY. 



15 



of flowers of the most vivid fiery orange scarlet, one good example of which is enough to 

 heighten up a whole collection. Angracum sesquipedale, the great Madagascar wonder, with 

 flowers among the largest of the order, white and ivory-like in texture and appearance, and 

 having a slender terete spur lengthened out to a foot or more, and looking like a slender tail 

 hanging from the flower. The hahit of tins latter is that of the Vandas. Mr. Veitch has 

 some very pretty variegated Anaactochiliis-like Japanese plants, probably Ooodycras, of 

 which, and other fine things in this way, we hope to have a word to say hereafter. For the 

 present we can only observe that the prettiest of these appear to be one with green-veined 

 leaves edged with deep golden yellow, and another with the centro of the leaf of a paler yellow 

 than in the former. Amongst Ferns new to our gardens, we observed Zoniaria gibba, a 

 greenhouse species from the islands of the Pacific, recently brought to England by Sir I). 

 Cooper, and promising to be one of the finest, for ornamental purposes, of this very beautiful 

 genus of Ferns. It is very rare, if not unique. A small ridge-and-furrow-house — a capital 

 plant-house by-the-by — was devoted to the establishment of a splendid lot of Australian Tree 

 Ferns, recently imported and consisting of (1) a very graceful, slender, tall-stemmed species, 

 which we understand Sir W. Hooker names Alsophila Macarthuri ; (2) noble plants of Ako- 

 phtfa australis, some of which with stems about seven feet high and eight inches in diameter, 

 and perfectly symmetrical, are amongst the handsomest, though not the largest, examples we 

 remember to have seen in our gardens; and (3) some fine stems of Bicksonia antarclica. 

 Here are also in course of ''formation" some grand globular specimens of the various 

 (xleichenias now in cultivation, which look as if they were entered for some of the cups to bo 

 won next year. We ought to mention, as useful plants for this season, Solatium pseudo- 

 capsicum, and S. capsicastrum, little bushes laden with bright orange fruits, the former of 

 more vigorous habit than the latter, and here grown with a short tree-like stem ; its fruits 

 too, rather deeper colour — both of them suited either for greenhouse or table decoration. 

 Nor should we forget Ipomcea Horsfallice, an old-fashioned gorgeous creeper for the roof or 

 rafters of a stove, which no one could well regret having planted in such a situation. — M. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 



Conservatory. 

 With a good forcing-pit, and -with some little expe- 

 rience and foresight there can be no difficulty in keep- 

 ing rip a gay appearance here. Chrysanthemums 

 have continuedlonger than usual in flower, owing to the 

 mildness of the season. They ought all, however, to be 

 removed ere this, and the house thoroughly cleaned. 

 Pay great attention to the arrangement of the plants ; 

 a few nice things effectively arranged will be more 

 pleasing than a great quantity crowded and jumbled 

 together. All climbing plants, if not already done, 

 should be pruned and neatly tied, this will give the 

 house a more lightsome appearance. Attend well to 

 the watering of all plants in borders ; never Jet any- 

 thing get over-dry at roots; if you do, the spongelets 

 will suffer and the plants will receive a check which 

 they will not recover for months. Plants in flower- 

 bud, if allowed to get over-dry at roots, will cast them 

 off without expanding. For this reason Camellias, 

 Acacias, and other plants in flower-bud should on no 

 account suffer in the least for want of water. Heaths, 

 Epacrises and other hardwooded greenhouse plants 

 should only be introduced sparingly, as the tempera- 

 ture of this house should be kept higher than is 

 necessary for the well-doing of these plants. Without 

 them there are ample materials for furnishing ; we 

 have Azaleas, Roses, Cinerarias, Chinese Primroses, 

 Violets, Mignonette, Amaryllises, Hyacinths, Tulips, 

 Narcissus, and other bulbous plants, not to mention 

 Ferns, and variegated and omamental-foliaged 

 plants. Though the weather so far has been very fine 

 and open, we must expect more or less frost during 

 the month. Maintain a temperature of from 15° to 50° 

 by night and 55" to 60° by day, allowing it to rise by 

 sun heat a few degrees. Water carefully and sparingly, 

 but when anything wants it do it effectively. If any 

 plants get green fly they should be removed to another 

 houne to be fumigated. If only for a short time give 

 a little air daily, hut guard against cold cutting winds. 



Greenhouse. 

 The fine weather has been most favourable to these, 

 as little fire heat has been required, and the weather 

 has been such as to allow an abundance of air to bo 

 given. It is rather too early to encourage active growth. 

 Maintain a temperature of 40° at night in frosty 

 weather ; if it fell 2° or 3° lower it will do no harm, 

 but it is not advisable to let it get below 38 s . In mild 

 weather give plenty of air. In frosty weather be care- 

 ful in giving air, always guard against cold draughts. 

 Anything that requires cleaning, tying, or training, 

 should now be attended to. Get pots, crocks, soils, 

 sticks, <fcc, in readiness for potting next month.— M. S. 



Florists' Flowers. 

 The Cineraria. — Owing to the mildness of the sea- 

 son this plant has made rapid growth : consequently 

 will require every attention to remove all decaying, 

 old, and small spindling foliage to admit of the air 

 freely to their centres ; tie out as wide as possible, and 

 stop some for late flowering. It will be impossible for 

 you to pay too much attention to cleanliness in this 

 plant. Fumigate occasionally but cautiously, or you 

 may injure the foliage. Give air freely every favour- 

 able opportunity, and avoid as much as possible all 

 cold and frosty currents of air. Be careful in watering, 

 and give only to such as really require it. Pelargo- 

 niums.— tidi care be taken to prevent the plants 

 drawing up, or becoming too delicate. To effect this 

 object give air in abundance on every favourable 

 opportunity. Continue to tie out the shoots carefully 

 and regularly, and give the plant as much room as 

 possible, everything like crowding should be carefully 

 avoided. Select from the plants which are well 

 established in the pots in which they are in- 

 tended to flower those you intend to exhibit early, and 

 let them have a little fire heat every evening, the 

 temperature ranging about 50°. Those intended for 

 the late shows should be kept at a moderately low but 



