THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
63 
February in all open weather, this is a sort of closing season, and all such work 
delayed beyond the present month is incurring a risk. 
This month. Ranunculuses for the June shows must be planted. The beds 
must be composed of half good loam, and half decomposed cow-dung well mixed ; 
the bed should be dug out a foot deep at the beginning of the month. The most 
enthusiastic florists leave the soil out of the bed in a ridge on each side of it, 
until the 12th, when they put a layer of neat’s dung two inches thick at bottom, 
all over, then return the soil to the bed, leave it to settle till the 14th, when they 
level it ; draw drills three inches deep and six inches apart ; the roots are gently 
pressed into the earth at the bottom of the drill ; cover the roots an inch and a 
half above the crown by drawing down some of the mould into the drill. 
Aubicclas should be top-dressed with rich compost, chiefly the dung of 
poultry well rotten into mould, and sparingly applied to them ; its own weight 
of cow-dung also rotted ; this mixed with rough sand to make water go through 
it, will be found a first-rate top dress. Take off the surface without bruising the 
roots, then fill up with the top-dressing, within a quarter of an inch of the top of 
the pot ; water gently. 
Caexatioxs and Picottees must continue to have the same treatment as 
recommended for last month. Mix up some loam and cow-dung in equal 
quantities, lay them together in a heap, to get ready for potting off these plants 
in their large pots for blooming. Turn it and mix it once a week. 
Roses. — Prune one half the roses in the garden, leaving the other half a 
month longer to be pruned hereafter. The Chinese and climbing roses must be 
pruned but little, tl e weakly branches removed, and all their dwindling sprigs cut 
out, but main branches must not be shortened much. The garden kinds must be 
cut back very close, not leaving more than the two or three bottom eyes of the 
principal last year's shoots ; also cut out any old wood and branches which cross 
one another, and are in each other’s way. Plant roses, and whether they be 
standards or dwarfs, worked roses, or on their own roots, out of doors or in pots, 
cut the ends of ail the roots, clean and take off all bruised portions, U9e strong 
loam and dung in equal quantities, and if the soil out of doors be not of this de- 
scription, dig in seme stuif of the kind with each plant ; but we prefer autumn 
planting ; do not prune newly-planted roses until you see how much of the wood 
will break into buds ; graft roses on common stocks ; if well done you will make 
plants of the prunings of your choice varieties. 
Dahiias. — Set some of the most choice that you are anxious to propagate in 
pots of light mould, and place them in a hot-bed or cucumber frame. 
Axemoxes for late bloom should be planted the same way as the Ranuncu- 
luses. 
If you have unwisely delayed removing strawberries for new beds in the 
autumn, now is the only time f.> do it. Also clean strawberry beds, and top- 
dress them with decomposed dung. 
The same may be said of gooseberry and currant bushes, raspberry canes, and 
fruit trees in general, but we direct these things to be done in autumn. 
RnntAKB and Seaeat.e may be covered for forcing with pots or boxes, and 
surrounded with fermenting leaves or hot stable duDg. 
Peas — Sow for a succession crop to those sown in November and last month, 
or if you have not sown any, sow for your first crop, not too thick nor too many, 
as we recommend sowing every month till July or even August ; earth up any 
that are advancing in growth. 
Sow also early beans in drills a yard apart, and the beans three inches apart 
in the drill. 
Cabbage. — Plant out in vacant spaces the strongest frem the August seed- 
bed. 
Sow Radishes and Lettuce in a sheltered situation, where they may be easily 
protected with litter, such as clean straw, which can be spread over them at 
night, and remain on them in a frost, but be taken off in the morning in mild 
weather. 
Oxioxs for Seep. — Plant out a few fine bulbs to go to seed, plant the bulbs 
two thirds in the ground, aad a foot from each other. 
February. 
