12 
GARDENING CALENDAR FOR JANUARY: 
Fuchsias, being dormant, must be kept nearly 
dry; prune in the side shoots, and be ready to 
start a few at the end of the month. 
Geraniums. — Protect from cutting winds ; 
give as much air and light to the plants as 
possible. The varieties called Alba multi- 
flora, Napier, and Colleyanum, are amongst 
the best for forcing into early bloom, and of 
the scarlet sorts none is better than the Tom 
Thumb, a dwarf growing sort. 
Myrtles, and other evergreens, must be kept 
cool ; syringe them in fine mornings, as they 
are sure to get dusty, which is unsightly. 
Ruses. — Unless they are in a growing state 
water very little ; moss over the pots of those 
in flower ; apply tobacco liquor or snuff to 
those infested with green-fly. 
Primulas are very impatient of water 
and damp ; the soil should be chiefly leaf 
mould, with a little sand and loam, and well 
drained. 
Violets, removed from the frames, will now 
be scenting the room ; keep them near the 
light ; frequently stir the soil in the pots, and 
remove all decayed leaves and flowers ; admit 
air profusely. 
Wardian Cases. —These interesting append- 
ages must, if situated near the window, be 
protected or removed at night during frosty 
weather, but give them as much light as pos- 
sible during the day. From 40 to 50 degrees 
will suit the generality of plants grown in them. 
They will require no water. Pick off every 
decaying part as soon as it appears ; also stir 
the surface of the soil occasionally, to avoid 
any tendency to mouldiness or damp. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Alpines. — These should be plunged in coal- 
ashes or old tan, and either hooped over and 
covered with awning to protect them from 
wet and cold, or placed in frames facing the 
north ; they must have plenty of air. 
Annuals. — Towards the end of the month, 
sow in a hotbed a few seeds of the princi- 
pal tender sorts for pot flowering, such as 
amaranths, balsams, browallias, cockscombs, 
Thunbergias, &c. : — Some of the half-hardy 
kinds, as cobeas, lophospermums, maurandyas, 
mignonette, schizanthus, suhizopetalon, lo- 
belia, &c, may also be sown in a slight hot- 
bed ; but unless ample accommodation can be 
provided, it is better to defer sowing until 
next month. 
Half-hardy Plants, such as calceolarias, 
fuchsias, petunias, verbenas, and other bed- 
ding out plants, require to be kept dry and 
clean : give them all the air possible in mild 
weather: water in the morning. Put a few of 
the better and rarer sorts in the forcing-house 
to produce cuttings. "When the weather is 
very severe, and the frost penetrates through 
the coverings, let them remain covered until 
they are thawed; thus the plants sustain com- 
paratively slight injury. 
Forcing Plants, such as roses, azaleas, 
rhododendrons, lilacs, deutzias, &c, together 
with the various bulbs, as hyacinths, tulips, 
narcissus, amaryllis, jonquils, &c, may be 
brought on in early vineries, peach-houses, 
&c, but it is better to have pits or a hou^e, 
exclusively for them, which should have bottom 
heat supplied by some means. The points 
necessary to attend to are these : — To secure 
well ripened plants, and to have them well 
established in the pots ; to place a few at a 
time in heat, and to apply it gently and gra- 
dually ; to use tepid water always ; to give air 
regularly, and shut up early, keeping the 
average temperature at 60 degrees b)' day and 
50 degrees by night; to keep all the plants 
free of insects by fumigating for green fly ; 
and maintaining a moist atmosphere, and so 
preventing red spider, &c. Should they become 
infested, slightly paint the flues, or pipes, with 
sulphur while they are cool, which will kill the 
spider and tend much to keep away other ver- 
min. It is a most excellent plan, although not 
generally adopted, before forcing or even 
growing plants in the pits or houses, to cleanse 
them by burning within them a quantity of 
rags dipped in sulphur, taking care to have the 
places quite closed and to allow no means of 
escape to the adjoining ones. The plants 
must of course all be removed previous to this 
being done. 
Violets. — The Neapolitan variety is the 
! best for frames ; they must be well aired, and 
; kept near the glass : they are very impatient 
I of wet; a slight heat (45 degs.) will keep them 
blooming; frost must not be suffered to reach 
them. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Temperature. — From 40 to 45 degrees by 
day ; 35 degs. to 40 degs. by night. 
Ventilation. — Admit air every day if mild : 
apply artificial heat during the day in damp or 
severe weather, and ventilate at the same time, 
taking care that keen winds do not enter ; 
cover at night with an awning or mats. 
Watering. — Let the water used be a few 
degrees warmer than the temperature of the 
house ; apply it in the forenoon : keep the 
plants rather dry than wet, but never allow 
them to flag ; look over them daily. 
Potting. — Towards the end of the month, 
such plants as were designedly kept in store 
and small pots, may be selected and prepared 
for potting; get all the pots washed and dried, 
and the soil prepared and warmed to the tem- 
perature of the house. 
Dressing. — Take off all the dead leaves as 
they appear; stir up the surface of the soil, and 
make it rather highest in the centre. 
Staking and Labelling. — Before the busy 
