FLOWER FORCING. 
205 
amateur gardener these plants are peculiarly suited ; they require 
no attention in winter, and at other seasons respond so freely to 
every little attention given them, and are altogether so richly 
beautiful and varied, that it is really wonderful they are not more 
extensively cultivated. — Ed.] 
HINTS ON FORCING FLOWERS. 
During the present month the due preparation of subjects for 
forcing into early bloom becomes necessary, and without con¬ 
siderable attention both to the selection of the plants and the 
state of their present health, the decorative portion of the occu¬ 
pants of the conservatory and greenhouse from December to 
March next will be deficient and meagre. A few hints on the 
subject may not, therefore, be out of place. It is somewhat ex¬ 
traordinary that, with the extensive list of plants capable of bear¬ 
ing the necessary treatment to this end, and which would con¬ 
tribute immensely to the ornamenting of any situation at the 
season mentioned, the practice of forcing a comparatively insig¬ 
nificant portion, almost devoid of variety, and consequently 
deficient in interest, should still prevail. In the majority of places 
we find little besides bulbous-rooted plants, such as hyacinths, 
tulips, &c., with now and then a few pots of violets or mignonette, 
or a chance rose. No wonder, then, there should be complaints 
of a paucity of flowers : a bouquet could not be cut from such 
materials at any time. Let the subject, then, receive a little 
more consideration now that the deficiency may be supplied. 
There are very many things among the most ordinary garden 
plants which would then be esteemed remarkably beautiful, and 
are well suited for the proposed purpose. Pinks are sometimes 
forced: why not treat carnations, which are far more showy, in 
the same manner? They do not require so much heat, 50° being 
fully sufficient to bring them out in a vigorous manner. Most 
gardeners devote a frame to violets : let me advise them to put a 
few pots of anemones and gladiolus along with them. All the 
paeonies force well under a gentle regimen, and create a grand 
display. The common Indian pink may be made to flower 
