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GARDEN' HINTS FOR AMATEURS. — FEBRUARY. 
o. of the veiy best description must be used, for without this precaution and careful potting all other attention 
is thrown away. If the soil has been properly harvested and exposed to the action of the atmosphere, 
break it into pieces, and remove every particle but the turfy part ; break that into small pieces, pass it 
through a half-inch sieve ; mix it with suitable proportions of sand, charcoal, and potsherds broken 
small, and quite clean, and you have the main requisites for the cultivation of hard-wooded plants. 
Some such as Pimeleas, Chorozemas, Polygalas, Dillwynias, Correas, Bossireas, &c, will be benefited by 
an addition of one-third or fourth of nice mellow Epping loam ; but always bear in mind that almost 
every known plant will nourish in peat and sand, and therefore do not run unnecessary risks with 
loams. Clean pots form another important element of success, and cleanliness in every particular must 
be attended to, even to the washing of plants with soap and water if necessary. Camellia? are now 
progressing rapidly ; take care to supply them with plenty of water, more especially if the weather 
should render it necessary to use strong fires. Some of the soft-wooded plants, such as Pelargoniums, 
Calceolarias, and Cinerarias, will now be growing rapidly ; supply them liberally with water, pot if 
necessary, and keep a sharp look out for insects and decaying leaves, which must be removed instantly, 
especially from the Fancy Pelargoniums, or they will be sine to rot the stem of the plants. If the 
plants are much crowded with foliage thin a part of the smallest out, so as to admit of a free circulation 
of air, and train the plants in a regular and uniform maimer. A few plants of Fuchsias must also be 
started, and some of the finer kinds of Mimulus, such as Ruberrima, Conductor, Harlequin, Formosa 
clegans, &c-, will make a good show if grown freely from this time. On bright days a slight syringing 
three or four times a week will be of benefit to the plants. Fumigate to prevent green fly. 
Store and Forcing-House. — In addition to the regular occupants, many of which, such as the 
Begonias, Gloxinias, and Gesneras, will now be very gay ; room must be found here to forward 
Azaleas and Camellias, a few American plants, Roses, and some bulbs. The Dipladenias, Allamandas 
Ixoras, and Stephanotes, must also be started if wanted early, and the various kinds of Achimenes, 
Gesneras, Gloxinias, and other bulbous stove plants must also be attended to. 
Propagating Pit. — Here a busy time is at hand, not only to provide stock for the flower-garden but 
also to increase such stove plants as are required for winter blooming. Examine your stock, and 
introduce plants of such Verbenas, Petunias, Heliotropiums, &c, as you require plants of; and Tea, 
China, and Bourbon Roses, may also be increased rapidly at this season. If the pit is heated by a tank 
you will have little trouble with it, but if you have to depend upon tan or dung linings for bottom 
heat, take care to keep a good stock of fermenting articles always ready for use, so that the pit suffers 
no decrease of heat. 
Cold Pits and Frames. — Attend to young stock in these, and sec that they are properly protected 
in severe weather ; clear the plants frequently of dead or decaying leaves, stir the surface of the 
soil, and keep the plants as clean as possible. Sow a successional crop of Mignonette on a slight bottom 
heat, using a rich soil. Repot stocks, and encourage them, and prepare fermenting materials for beds 
on wliich to sow tender annuals next month. 
Florists' Flowers. — These, owing to the mild weather, are unusually forward ; and hence, as the roots 
will soon sutler for want of room, no time must be lost in getting Carnations and Pieotees into their 
blooming pots, taking care to protect them from heavy rains afterwards, \\lierc Auriculas and Poly- 
anthuses arc showing prematurely, as many are this season, nip the flower stem out, stir the surface 
soil, and top dress with suitable compost. Give plenty of air, but guard cautiously against frost. If 
large quantities of Dahlias are wanted, introduce some of the best into heat to produce cuttings, but 
under ordinary circumstances, March will be soon enough to start them. Attend to Pinks. See 
that they are not blown about by the wind, and press the soil firmly around them if in a suitable state. 
Pansics will require much the same treatment. Remove flower buds from those in pots, and encourage 
them as much as possible. Transplant any to borders wliich it is wished to flower in that situation, 
giving a deep and highly enriched soil. Ranunculuses must also be planted when the ground is in 
suitable condition, and Tulips must also be protected should the weather prove severe. When a large 
Increase of Phloxes or Hollyhocks is required, a few plants in pots, introduced into the greenhouse w ill 
produce abundance of cuttings. 
Flower Garden ami Sh7'ubbery. — Alterations in these departments must be proceeded with as 
quickly as possible, such as trenching, renewing and replanting beds, levelling ground, or altering the 
form of walks or borders. If a fine display of flowers is wanted, nothing is so necessary as to have 
deep and porous borders ; but they should not be (no rich, as, in that case, the plants in rainy seasons 
are liable to run too much to foliage. It is better to depend upon manure water for enriching tin >i>il 
in case of need. Prune roses towards the end of the month, and finish planting if not already done. 
Established plants, after they are pruned, will be much benefited by having the soil removed about 
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