Work for the Month of February 
Conducted by Henry Gibson, New York. 
BEDDING- PLANTS. 
OX places where bedding-out is a feature of the 
flower garden definite plans must be laid now 
as to the kind and quality of stock that will 
be required. Xo really good gardener can afford to be 
apathetic about this, and think that next May is 
soon enough to bother about the flower-beds and 
borders. Do the planning now and save much 
time and labor in growing plants that you will not 
need. There are a few gardeners (now greatly in the 
minority, however) who continue to grow the same 
subjects and in the same quantity year after year. 
They muddle through somehow, and no doubt produce 
a fair quantity of blooms, yet if they would vary their 
subjects more, they would get more pleasing results 
with no extra labor beyond that of studying up the 
lists of available plants. Bedding-out like all other 
garden operations, if worth doing at all, is worth doing- 
well, and a little forethought will make a vast differ- 
ence in the ultimate results. 
The raising of bedding plants is interesting work, 
especially where seedlings predominate. By the aid of 
a small greenhouse or an early hot-bed, a great variety 
of plants may be raised for bedding-out purposes. In 
addition many perennial subjects may be raised in this 
way, and in the majority of instances February is the best 
month to carry out the work. 
Among the numerous seeds that may be started at 
this time we can mention but few of the almost inex- 
haustible list. Such subjects as Anntirrhinum agera- 
tum, asters, centaurias, marguerites, petunias. Phlox 
Drummondii, Stocks, verbenas, etc., can be started in 
a temperature of about 55 degrees. 
The more warmer blooded plants, as Begonias, 
gloxinias celosias, cuphea, vincas, etc., require a tem- 
perature of about 65 degrees. 
Sweet-peas may of course be sown now for setting 
out doors in early spring. Dahlias if sown early will 
bloom at the usual time. The raising of dahlia seed- 
lings is very interesting, and not infrequently one is 
rewarded with something that is of considerable 
merit. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
While it may appear somewhat out of place to say that 
there is much to do in this department, at this time, 
yet we must not overlook the fact that to have early 
vegetables means an early start. Manure may be pre- 
pared for hot-beds, wherein cabbage, carrots, cauli- 
flower, lettuce, radish, spinach, and any other vegeta- 
bles may be raised for early use. 
Those who have a greenhouse may sow Alsia Craig 
onions and leeks for exhibition purposes. Globe arti- 
chokes should be sown at once if not already done. 
One should not be afraid to have too many- of these, 
as only a very small proportion will bear the first sea- 
son. The seedlings require fairly liberal treatment to 
grow into good plants by planting out time in May. 
Tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers for an early crop 
should also be sown now. Early celery should not be 
( iverlooked. 
The pruning of fruit trees and spraying should be 
pushed ahead on all favorable occasions. Late flower- 
ing shrubs will also need pruning, as time and oppor- 
tunity permit. 
GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
Preparations should be made for the repotting of 
greenhouse plants now. An important point is to get 
a quantity of potting material under cover in good 
time. If possible, it should be placed in a position 
where it will get warmed slightly before being re- 
quired for use. Should this not be practical, or con- 
venient, we have found that warming a barrowful at a 
time by putting two or three red-hot bricks into it, a 
gi ii k1 practice. 
BOUVARDIAS. 
Root cuttings of these subjects may be put in the 
propagating bench this month, or if found more con- 
venient, flats may be used. The soil should be washed 
off the roots of the old plants and the cuttings made an 
inch to an inch and a half in length. These, whether 
placed in the propagating bench or in flats, only re- 
quire to be slightly covered with sand, or the young 
shoots will not be able to come through. Keep them 
moist and shaded, and within a month you will have 
nice young plants. When flats are used instead of the 
regular cutting bench, it is advisable to fill up to within 
an inch of the top of each with coarse soil, so as to 
have ample drainage, finishing off with a top layer of 
sand, on which the cuttings are placed. 
THE CONSERVATORY OK FLOWERING HOUSE. 
To keep a regular supply of fresh flowers in the 
conservatory at all times requires a good deal of care- 
ful planning and premeditation. At this time of the 
year it is not so difficult with the bulbs coming in as 
needed. Then we have the Cinerarias, Schizanthus. 
and Primulas in variety to help out. but there is a 
period between late spring and early summer when it 
is not so easy to maintain a bright, attractive appear- 
ance. A batch of tuberous begonias and another batch 
of gloxinias, started now would help considerably oyer 
that period, in so much as these plants would be about 
at their best then. Campanulas are useful for the same 
purpose, and the introduction of a few tastefully filled 
hanging baskets would greatly improve the appear- 
ance of this department, when suitable plants are used. 
There are several varieties of fuchsia which show to 
advantage when used in this way. Three of the best 
that we have seen are Scarcity. Mrs. Rundle. and 
Charming. Numerous species of drooping plants may 
also be used, French Honeysuckle ( Isolepsis-gracilis). 
Tradescantia in variety, Xepta Gracilis varigata. and 
small-leaved coleus are a few that are desirable. Ivy- 
leaved pelargoniuns do well under this system of cul- 
tivation, and drooping Campanulas are splendid. The 
baskets should be filled in good time to allow the plants 
to become established before their flowering season 
comes round. 
DAHLIAS. 
Dahlias that have been stored away during the win- 
ter should be brought out this month and placed in 
boxes of light, sandy soil, or, better still, they ma- be 
planted in the same medium on the top of a light, 
sunny bench. They will start freely in a temperature 
of 55 degrees, and when the young growth is about 
three to four inches long they should be taken off with 
a small heel, and either put into the propagating bench 
