1 
24 OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. 
or of any otber genus, that are intended for cuttings, should be broken out if 
possible, instead of being severed with a knife, as they strike so much more 
readily when there is a group of buds at their base. To perform this skilfully, 
without damaging the plant, great dexterity and practice are necessary ; and it 
must not be left to a novice. 
A few words, on the present occasion, will suffice to show why we deem it 
prudent to defer the digging of borders till the first week in April, and we may 
probably give some directions for the performance of this and similar operations 
at the time we think they should be accomplished. First, if done earlier, it 
opens the soil around the roots of shrubs and plants, and, should severe frost 
follow at any period in the winter, will aid in admitting it to all the surface roots, 
and thereby cause irremediable mischief. Next, when herbaceous plants are 
parted before winter (which must be done if the ground is dry) they are often 
cast up again by frost, and their roots wholly subjected to its influence. Farther, 
the coarser species of bulbs which such borders contain are nearly always turned 
over, cut, or otherwise mutilated, because the workman cannot tell their locality ; 
whereas, if the digging were left till spring, they would be sufficiently above the 
earth to escape all such mishaps. 
With plants in houses, the main point to be attended to is to guard against 
frost and damp. It should be remembered that the judicious culturist's object is 
not to maintain a fixedly high or moderate temperature, but to check the aggres- 
sion of frost. Fires should, consequently, be kindled only when this occurs, 
or appears likely to ensue ; and their energies should be directed solely to this 
specific end : for, if an arbitrary and useless heat is created, it is not alone the 
waste of fuel, but the exciting and debilitating effects which this produces on the 
plants, that are to be deplored. 
Hyacinths desired for late flowering, should now be encouraged to develop 
themselves. Two essential features in the culture of these lovely flowers seem 
almost universally neglected. They ought to be invariably started by covering 
the pots containing them with three or four inches of old bark, or half-pulverised 
leaf-soil. A due share of moisture is thus preserved around both leaves, bulbs, 
and roots, and moisture is their vital element in the growing stage. When they 
reach the surface of the covering, they may be gradually introduced to the full 
existing measure of solar light, which will speedily restore the colour of their 
blanched foliage. Another important necessary to their complete perfection, is a 
large portion of river or white sand in the soil. This helps to ensure a thorough 
drainage ; and nothing is more prejudicial to them than stagnant water. Other 
early-blooming bulbs may be similarly treated. 
