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The Greenhouse Month to Month 
I By W. R. Fowkes, New York. 
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WE are now in the midst of Winter, and yet in two 
more months Spring will be here. Propagation 
of plants such as bouvardias, fuchsias, heliotropes, 
lantanas and geraniums will be in order. The three 
first named succeed best when stock plants are headed 
back with a sharp knife, and the young tender growths 
that follow will soon root in the sand. 
Chrysanthemums must be started also, particularly the 
exhibition varieties. The pompons and singles will do 
if struck in Alarch. 
Carnations that are rooted should be potted in 2]/^- 
inch and kept cool. The carnation plants will now 
have filled the benches with roots, and will be looking 
for food from other sources than the soil they are grow- 
ing in contains. A good mulch not more than half an 
inch deep of well rotted manure and the other half good 
loam, to which add a 5-inch pot of soot to each barrow- 
load of the compost, will be quite enough to keep them 
going for a few weeks. Overfeeding is the primary 
cause of bursting of the calyx as well as causing the 
blooms to wither or go to sleep too soon. 
Seeds of salvias, vincas, commonly called Madagascar 
Periwinkle, Begonias of the Erfordii and kindred varie- 
ties should be sown at this time. The soil which grew 
the 'mums, screened and given a little sand and leaf 
mold, will do nicely for these. 
Any ferns that need repotting should have attention. 
Light, flaky soil, good drainage and clean pots are the 
principal requisites ; add a little bone in the compost for 
■ Boston ferns. 
Adiantum Croweanum should have the crowns filled 
with air slacked lime. It promotes healthy growths and 
kills the slugs. 
Crotons can be propagated by taking hold of the last 
growth on the stem and removing a leaf, slit the bark 
open to the center, tie a little sphagnum moss around, 
insert a fine piece of wood to keep the cut cle^, and in 
the healing process roots will form. Keep the moss 
slightly damp, not too wet, and fine young plants can be 
secured in this manner. This is a much more satis- 
factory method than taking cuttings. From now on 
until jilarch is the best time. 
Peach and nectarines in pots will need a light syring- 
ing each fine day to assist the swelling of the buds. 
Keep the house cool and not too dry until the plants 
bloom ; then they nuist be kept in a drier atmosphere 
during that period. 
Azaleas that have flowered should have all dead flow- 
ers and seed pods picked ofif and syringed to aid the 
new growth on which depends the successful carrying 
over of this plant, as well as the successful blooming. 
Cinerarias and calceolarias will become infested with 
aphis if allowed to get dry, but the atmosphere of the 
peach house at this time is ideal for them. As a pre- 
ventative, spray with .Aphine every ten days. Fumiga- 
tion causes the edges of the leaves to burn, disfiguring 
the plants. 
Lilium Harrisii and Formosum that are wanted for 
Easter, if now nicely started and about a foot high, can 
have no better place than the rose house. The tempera- 
ture will suit and bring them along nicely. 
Hyacinths and tulips, in fact bulbs of every descrip- 
tion, can be greatly benefited with a top dressing of 
Clay's fertilizer every 10 days until they are in bloom. 
It is an excellent one to use, and has no disagreeable 
odor, therefore can be used on house and conservatory 
plants, where animal manures could not be used. 
Achimenes can be started preparatory for baskets for 
early Summer blooming. Cattleyas that have flowered 
should have only sufficient water to keep from shriveling. 
Cattle^a Schroederae will have all buds down in the 
sheath, and must be kept on the dry side until buds ap- 
pear, and then water thoroughly. 
Lilacs, prunus, forsythias and their kind can be 
forced for Easter by bringing first into a cool house, 
then the warm, and when flowers have expanded be 
put back in the cool department. Baby Rambler roses 
can be grown in like manner. 
Mignonette will require disbudding. Tie each leading 
shoot and do not allow the aphis to spoil it. Keep a 
.sharp lookout for snails and other pests. 
.Vntirrhinums will be blooming and their care is 
small, onl_\- to be watered and kept free from insects. 
SchizaiUhus that are wanted for Easter should now be 
in 6-inch pots in a cool house, and be given one pinch 
more. An early start can be made with glo.xinias. 
These beautiful flowering plants are easily grown, and 
have their place in every well ordered house. Procure 
bulbs two years old, place some sand and chopped 
sphagnum moss in a shallow flat, and just press the 
bulbs in and not cover over and place in a corner of the 
warm house or any house in which night temperature 
of 60 degrees is maintained, and in several weeks they 
will start. 
Wallflower Kewensis is a grand plant to have along 
with other cool subjects in the fruit house. The plants, 
which were sown in August, will now be in 7-inch pots, 
and will be a great help to the fruit trees when in 
flower by encouraging the bees in their good work of 
fertilizing or setting the flower blossoms. As so much 
depends on the certainty of a good crop we should en- 
courage any condition that will help to achieve success. 
Lettuce can be sown again to keep the supplv going, 
and don't water the heart of the plant or decay will 
cause a lot of trouble and loss. Remember they are 
shallow rooted plants not requiring much soil, but what 
they grow in must be rich and light. 
Radish seed can be sown in shallow drills in a spare 
bench that is not being used. The turnip rooted or 
French varieties can be grown according to fancy. 
Early London cauliflower should be sown now. and 
will come in useful to plant when available bench room 
is to be had. 
There is great pleasure in growing fruit trees in pots, 
and all should try a few. When in flower they are a 
beautiful sight, and when the fruit is ripe they can be 
carefully carried to the house, and the guests can pick 
the fruit in the dining room for desert. This is seldom 
done in this country, but has been customary for many 
years in the lands across the Atlantic, and will become 
likewise here in time. It only needs a start. 
17 
