130 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
grown. On the other hand, size, in moderation, must not be l 03 t 
sight of. It was not with small blooms that I have taken first prizes 
for these last fifteen years. I would therefore advise the young 
grower to avoid the two extremes. In shading blooms for exhibition, 
as a general rule, they should be one-third blown before they are put 
under the shade ; and take care to secure such as appear to be coming 
good, and at the time they are required, from injury by friction. 
Slugs and earwigs are very destructive, and must be perseveringly 
kept down from the time the plants are put out till the end of the 
season. If you should be annoyed by a small black insect (which is 
often the casein July), use every means to encourage the plants to 
make rapid growths, by watering and syringing them overhead, and 
by brushing the depredators from the points of the shoots. Snuff, 
tobacco-water, and various remedies are often resorted to ; but these 
if effectual in killing the pests, generally destroy the points of the 
shoots ; if the plants are in a thriving condition, they will soon 
recover themselves. If the season proves dry, water freely two or 
three times a week ; but never let it be done by driblets ; give a 
good soaking when you do water, if that should not be so often. 
Employ manure water once a week as soon as they begin to throw 
up their buds ; but it should be used in a weak state at the 
commencement. 
Before concluding these remarks, permit me to bear witness to 
the increasing interest taken both in the culture of the Dahlia for 
competition and in the raising of seedlings. The enjoyment and 
pleasing recreation attending the cultivation of florists’ flowers add 
numbers to the fancy. 
I have much satisfaction in stating that no flower is more gene- 
rous in repaying the enthusiastic florist for his labour than the 
Dahlia. 
HOTHOUSES FOE AMATEURS. 
E ample directions given from time to time in the Floral 
World, for the management of small greenhouses, will 
enable amateurs to keep their collection of plants in 
good order without much difficulty ; but there are 
doubtless many persons who would prefer a hothouse, 
but may be deterred from erecting one on account of the supposition 
that it is more difficult to manage than a greenhouse. I have, how- 
ever, no doubt that with a little experience and perseverance, any 
intelligent person will find very little difficulty in the matter ; and it 
must afford gratification to the owner of a small hothouse to produce 
for his own table, and by his own management, his dish of French 
beans, new potatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, etc., and also a 
succession, of beautiful flowers all through the winter and early 
spring months, and in summer a constant supply of melons, a good 
crop of grapes, and pine-apple occasionally, besides a regular display 
of hothouse plants in flower. A hothouse for these purposes, of 
