GARDENING CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY. 
71 
in stands, and surrounded with moss ; this too 
improves their appearance. 
Begonias. — Those started last month, will 
be beginning to grow, and the supply of water 
may be increased. Pot the others in a fresh 
and rich soil, well-drained, but give no water 
until they start. 
Cacti will require no water ; keep them in 
the warmest part of the room, where there is 
light. 
Calceolarias should have a larger pot, and 
rich peaty soil ; they must be kept near the 
light, and have plenty of air ; they are very 
liable to injury from green fly, which should 
be looked to. 
Camellias should now be in full bloom ; 
they require a little more water, but avoid de- 
luging them ; excite them to grow when the 
flowering is past. 
Cinerarias. — Give plenty of air, and keep 
cool ; if the pots are full of roots, give them 
a size larger, using any rich soil ; they are 
very liable to suffer from green fly. 
Cyclamens may be kept in bloom for months. 
C. persicum is odoriferous and easily culti- 
vated ; keep them a little close, and water 
rather sparingly. 
Evergreens, which are most suitable for 
balconies at this season, should have all the 
fading leaves cleared off, and the surface of 
the soil freshened up. 
Geraniums should be kept near the light ; 
they may be set out on fine days, but must be 
taken in again in the afternoon. 
Hyacinths. — Those in glasses may have a 
small piece of charcoal put in the water, which 
keeps it fresh, and prevents the necessity of 
often changing it ; let the water used always 
be rain water : when frosty weather prevails, 
remove the glasses to a warmer part of the 
room : a little guano water is beneficial when 
they are in full growth, but apply it clear and 
weak. 
Myrtles must not have much water ; the 
old soil should be taken away from the roots, 
and fresh added ; or, if necessary, they may 
be potted, using rich loamy soil, well drained. 
Oranges. — Keep these somewhat warm and 
close ; when commencing to grow, surface the 
pot or tub with a mixture of strong yellow 
loam and decomposed cow-dung. 
Hoses. — Pick off all the decayed flowers, 
and shorten the flower shoots very moderately. 
By the end of the month, shift them, using 
rich loamy soil. 
Primula sinensis. — Divest these of all their 
old flower stems, and preserve no seed but 
from the very best sorts ; stir up the soil in 
the pot, and water sparingly ; propagate the 
double flowered ones by dividing them, and 
planting the slips as cuttings. 
Wardian Cases.— The chief element of suc- 
cess in growing plants in these, consists in mak- 
ing a suitable selection, and introducing them at 
the proper season ; next to this, stand arrange- 
ment, and thorough cleanliness. The plants most 
suitable are such as various annuals, cacti, ferns, 
lycopodiums, and orchids, in general avoiding 
very free and rapid growing kinds. The 
best mode of arrangement is, to have in the 
centre a rustic branch reaching to the top of 
the case, and fixed at the bottom ; to this 
branch (or tree in miniature) the orchids may 
be attached. The surface may, throughout, 
have an irregular rocky character, and here 
ferns and lycopodiums may be planted. The 
arrangement of the plants may often be changed, 
so as to give variety. Thunbergias are found 
to do admirably in these cases : sow a few 
now in a hot-bed for that purpose. Cacalias, 
mesembryanthemums, cacti, and similar plants 
do pretty well in small pots, amongst soil con- 
taining lime rubbish well drained. Lycopo- 
diums and ferns, which are perhaps the best 
suited of any, may be increased by taking 
off young plants, and checking them by grow- 
ing them in small pots with little soil ; they 
then do not get large ; the dwarf sorts are 
best ; the rare and beautiful kinds should 
have the most conspicuous places. Lygodium 
scandens does well, and should be allowed to 
ramble amongst the orchids. Orchids should 
consist of the small growers; they must be 
attached to very small blocks, by small wire, 
with a little moss about their roots. The 
sensitive plant which does well, and has much 
interest, should now be sown in a hot-bed, 
preparatory to being placed in the case. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Alpines. — Give these more water and air : 
the most interesting and pretty, as Saxifraga 
oppositifolia with the primulas, may be taken 
to the green-house while in flower ; continue 
covering at night if the weather is cold ; the 
pots may now be taken out of the material in 
which they are plunged. 
Annuals. — The tender sorts may be sown 
in heat any time this month : pot off into 
small pots those which w r ere sown last month, 
plunge them in bottom heat, and keep them 
near the glass : cover close at night with mats. 
Half-hardy ones may also be sown now, in 
heat — say the middle of the month : shift those 
which have been kept through the winter, 
and keep them neatly staked, giving air slightly 
every day by tilting the sashes behind. 
Half-hardy Plants which have been kept 
for bedding out, as verbenas, fuchsias, pelar- 
goniums, &c, may, if in cutting pots, be 
shifted singly into small pots, and those now 
in the small pots, may be shifted to the next 
size, keeping the frames close after, for a day 
or so. The choicer sorts should be propa- 
