FLOUICULTURAL HINTS. 
249 
The China, Tea-scented, and Bourbon roses in pots will also 
require some care just now ; many of them exhibit an inclination 
to continue blooming, which had better be checked by keeping 
them rather dry, or they will be filled with soft wood, which is 
certain to require much nursing in January, or the loss of some 
of the best may have to be regretted; besides, if the vigour of 
the plant is expended now in the production of puny flowers,' 
and the best of them are no more, it is not reasonable to suppose 
it will break so strongly in the spring as would be the case with 
those that are now sinking into a state of rest. Do not prune 
any of the branches now; indeed so fearful am I of this very 
common practice, that I do not even cut a stem to the flowers 
that it becomes necessary to remove, merely plucking them off 
close to the seed-pod, for when a branch is shortened it has a 
tendency to induce the protrusion of another from one of the 
lower eyes, which, as just remarked, is a matter to be avoided as 
far as possible ; plenty of air and but little moisture must be the 
maxim, not only with these but every other description of florist’s 
flower preserved in a pot, through the entire month. 
. Owing to the damp state of the atmosphere, worms are very 
troublesome in the beds of pinks and early-planted anemones and 
ranunculuses, thrusting up the soil and overturning the plants. 
The best remedy is lime-water, made by throwing half a peck of 
fresh lime into four or five gallons of water, and allowing it to 
stand till clear, when a couple of sprinklings will usually drive 
out the greater part; tar- or gas-water has the same effect, but is 
not so safe, as there is a possibility of its being too strong, which 
is not the case with lime-water. 
Auriculas and polyanthuses may be referred to the general di¬ 
rections given for picotees ; they will require plenty of air and but 
little water, with protection only from heavy rains. Should any 
of the pots appear to retain moisture longer than those beside 
them, the drainage is most likely defective, and should be exa¬ 
mined. Where polyanthuses are grown in the borders, it is ad¬ 
visable to set about them some small sprayed sticks, to break off 
the roughest winds and to guard them from the worst frosts. 
The removal of standard and other hardy roses may now be 
got on with most successfully, and stocks should be procured and 
planted, where an increase is required. With regard to these a 
