GARDENING CALENDER FOR MARCH. 
113 
be watered moderately: save seeds of good 
varieties. The double ones must be carefully 
grown, but allow them to rest a while after 
flowering. 
Violets. — Keep near the light ; the young 
runners should be encouraged to root by 
shaking rich soil amongst them when past 
bloom ; grow these to flower next season. 
The old plants will also do again if the soil is 
renewed. Plant them all in the open air to 
grow until September. 
Wardian Cases. — If the interior has been 
kept dry, give a thorough watering, first having 
taken away all dead leaves and plants, and the 
exhausted soil, replacing the latter by fresh 
earth of a suitable kind. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
The principal operations will consist in 
sowing, propagating, potting, tying up, hard- 
ening off, airing, watering, and covering up 
properly at night to exclude frost. 
Annuals. — Those tender kinds that were 
sown early must be shifted again, and others 
potted off. The amaranths, thunbergias, &c, 
must be plunged in a warm frame and kept 
near the light. The main sowings of cocks- 
combs, balsams, browallias, and such like, 
should be made at the end of the month. Half 
hardy kinds, as schizanthus, brachycome, 
rhodanthe, &c, should also be sown again. 
The hardy species, as eoilinsia,gilia, &c, should 
be hardened off, and put out at the end of 
the month. 
Half hardy plants, as calceolarias, petunias, 
verbenas, &c, must be potted off singly, or two 
in a pot, and kept close for a few days, and 
then moderately so until established, and after- 
wards gradually hardened. Get a proper notion 
of what will be required for bedding out, so 
that now they may be propagated as fast as 
possible ; andto get these young plants forward, 
use the soil and water a little warmed ; ac- 
custom all these, particularly the young stock, 
to a free circulation of air, to prepare them 
for full exposure. Should it happen that frosts 
come unexpectedly and get at the plants, a 
remedy will be found in at once syringing them 
repeatedly with very cold water, and removing 
them to a cold frame, where they must be kept 
dark until thoroughly dry. 
Forcing Pit. — The utmost care is requisite 
to keep the roses and other flowers perfectly 
clean : repeated fumigations of tobacco, a moist 
atmosphere, and a steady heat of 60 degrees 
at night, and 70 degrees by day, will go 
far to secure this. The bulbs, and indeed every 
thing that is growing rapidly, will be assisted 
by watering them, say twice a week, with clear 
liquid manure: it is of importance that it is 
given, especially at first, in a weak state ; the 
state of the plant must determine the strength 
48. 
and quantity. G-ive some air every day, and 
shut up early ; still apply the chief waterings 
in the morning. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Temperature, from 45 degrees to 55 de- 
grees by day ; and from 35 to 45 degrees by 
night. 
Ventilation. — Give air freely at the top 
and bottom sashes, also by the doors in mild 
weather: no fire heat is ordinarily necessary. 
Watering. — Still (in the early part of the 
month) avoid spilling water as much as pos- 
sible. Towards the end, a thorough sj'ringing 
will be of benefit, if done in the morning, so 
as to be dried up by mid-day. Increase the 
water at the roots, but apply it so that the soil 
may be thoroughly moistened. Newly-potted 
plants must be watered sparingly. 
Potting. — Select those plants first for pot- 
ting which require it most : where the roots 
are matted, loosen and partially untwine them, 
and make the new soil and the ball unite. It 
is not always necessary to remove thoroughly 
the drainage crocks of the former potting. After 
potting keep them a little close for a few days, 
always removing them to their place of growing 
again, before watering. 
Soils. — Have a stock of turfy loam, peat, 
leaf-mould, river and silver sand, with charcoal 
and crocks all under cover, and ready for use. 
It is not important to have had them previously 
mixed, but it is well if they have been exposed 
to the frost : they should be moderately dry. 
Use new or clean washed pots. 
Dressing. — Continue to keep all tidy ; give 
a general look over the plants, for the purpose 
of cleaning them, re-staking, renewing tallies, 
and surface, and tying up the various plants 
requiring it. 
Insects. — Never tire in taking means to 
destroy these : sponge the plants that the 
syringe cannot clean : fumigate often, or in- 
stead, use diluted tobacco water. 
Aloes and succulents generally will be better 
shifted now than later ; use turfy loam, leaf- 
mould, and sand; drain well, and give little or 
no water. 
Agaves and large succulents may have a 
little water, if growing ; shift those not yet 
potted, or put in tubs, using a good turfy loam, 
and adding a little charcoal. 
Alstromerias. — If the potshave been covered 
with some plunging material, remove it early, 
before the plants are far advanced, and give 
the utmost attention to prevent injury from 
slugs ; air must be plentifully given them. 
Annuals. — Sow again at the end of the 
month. Give those growing freely a large 
shift before the roots become matted ; keep all 
near the light, in a moderate heat, and give 
air every day. 
