°^S. V_ 
™mm 
% 
GARDEN HINTS. 
71 
really novel colours ; and the best-formed ones are, one and all, uncertain. The most striking colours 
are Baltic, a rich golden buff; Queen of Fairies, a singularly beautiful white, -with a lavender or rosy 
lilac spot : neither of them are of first-rate form, but very beautiful in colour. Two novel whites, 
Queen of the West and Barmaid, are fine models, but not very certain ; tie former will be rather 
thin for the late season of showing, and the latter has a thin green scale in the centre, but occasionally 
comes without it. Admiral is a fine rosy lilac, something like very fine blooms of Fearless, Duke of 
Cambridge, and Queen of Lilacs, and apparently constant. — Cott. Gard., p. 381. 
<0nrkn irafa fur States. 
MARCH. 
MARCH is a busy month, not only among plants but also in the open garden and pleasure-ground ; 
indeed the gardener who is not ahead of his work at the end of this month will generally find 
himself behind all the season ; therefore exert yourself to complete alterations in every department, so 
as to make a good start with the coming month. In this busy season the matter of protection of fruit 
trees must be attended to in time, and even in late situations the retarding influence of shading during 
bright sunshine, by imitating late springs, which are generally fruitful, may be of considerable 
importance. At Elvaston, where there is the best wall of Apricot trees perhaps in England, Mr. 
Barron commences protection in October, by placing frames covered thinly with a network of haybands 
before the trees at that time. If the J'oung wood is not thoroughly matured it is protected from the 
scourging effects of a severe winter; and if the buds are too forward in the autumn, the shading of the 
wall will retard and bring them to their right season in the spring. This is the true theory of fruit 
protection. A very sensible article on the subject will be found in the Journal of the Horticultural 
Society (vol. v., p. 277), by our contributor, Mr. John Saul. 
If the directions of last month respecting the potting of all plants which require shifting have 
not been attended to, no time must be lost in carrying them out, for the easterly winds will soon he 
upon us, and nothing is so injurious to newly-potted plants. "When the plants are potted the houses 
must be kept close for a fortnight ; that is, the plants must not be exposed to cold draughts, and 
consequently, the house must not be ventilated by the top and side lights at the same time. A syringe 
full of clean tepid water may be drawn over the plants occasionally on bright mornings, and plants in 
towns or exposed to dust, will be materially benefited if they are taken from the house some mild dry 
day, and receive a thorough washing, as recommended at p. 38. Cleanliness is the life and vigour' of 
plants ; without it success in then- cultivation is impossible. They may live and grow, but it will be the 
smoke-dried growth of the children of the close and ill-ventilated courts of our crowded cities, and 
not the robust health of country life. Watering, more especially among specimen plants, will require 
particular attention ; in fact, each plant must be examined separately, and if you have any doubt of the 
ball not being moist throughout, probe it directly with a thin-pointed iron rod, and place the pot in a 
feeder of water until the ball is properly moistened: this must be attended to at once, or the parching 
winds of March may acquaint you of your neglect when it is too late, and the plant has paid the debt 
of nature. Azaleas and Heaths must be particularly attended to in this respect, or the flowers may 
come small, blind, and deformed, if they arc not destroyed altogether. If you grow plants for exhibition, 
or if you require to retard, or force any plants for a particular time, you must examine your stock 
minutely, and see which plants will lie the best suited for certain times, ami arrange them accordingly ; 
those that require forcing in the warmest and most sunny parts of the house, and those to be kept back 
in the shaded parts. About the end of the month any plants which have not been repotted, and which 
arc advancing into bloom, will be benefited by a little laiuk liquid manure, prepared from' sheep's dung 
and soot steeped in soft water. Do not forget to use it weak. 
Among soft-wooded plants increase the temperature of the Pelargonium-house a little, n 
especially if you grow " Fancies," so as to draw the shoots out a little before they begin to truss up for 
bloom. Any that arc forward must have the flowers picked Out, SO a-- husband the strength of the 
plants for the general bloom. Scarlet Pelargoniums for specimen plants must be attended to. and have 
additional heat. Fuchsias must be forwarded in a warm pit : the varieties figured in another page arc 
splendid kinds. Calceolarias are now grow ing admirably : repot If necessary, and attend regularly 
with water, and to the destruction or prevention of insi cis. Cinerarias Income daily more interesting, 
as the flowers begin to expand, and those who have a batch of seedlings will find them of hourly interest. 
All soft-wooded plants, not in bloom, will be benefited bj syringing with -oft tepid water, twice or 
iln ice a wet k. 
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