64 
THE FLORIST. 
syringe heavily, to wasli off the old dead blooms and to keep the foliage 
healthy. Water inside the borders. Go often over the trees and 
disbud, but do not remove too many at one time. Succession houses 
coming into bloom will require all the air possible, and in other respects 
should be treated as the early house. 
Pelargoniums .—As these plants will now be growing very fast some 
time must be devoted to forming handsome plants by tying out the 
side shoots and attending closely to the watering, seeing that it penetrates 
through the entire ball of earth, after having been kept comparatively dry 
for some time. Those for late flowering may now receive their final 
re-potting. Keep all perfectly clean, and the house tolerably warm, by 
closing it early in the afternoon. 
Pinery .—Maintain a regular bottom heat of from 80*^ to 90°. 
Fruit now swelling should have liberal supplies of water and a moist 
growing atmosphere. Plants in flower and showing fruit should have a 
rather dry atmosphere. Plants intended for autumn fruiting will now 
require considerable attention. Though they should not have any ex¬ 
citement to make them “drawn,” still they should be kept steadily 
growing; give a little air when the weather permits. Succession 
plants should have a bottom heat of about 80°, a day temperature of 
about 70°, with air according to the state of the weather. This treat¬ 
ment will carry them through to the potting next month, for which 
have everything ready, so as to seize the best time. 
Pinks .—Stirring the surface of the soil and keeping the plants in an 
erect position is all that can be done for a time, excepting the very 
essential top dressing required towards the end of the month, when the 
beds are in a dry state. 
Strawberry-forcing. —Strawberry-forcing is now a very easy matter 
if the plants have been properly prepared the previous autumn. If 
they have not, better throw the whole lot away than bother with them, 
for you will not by any treatment now ensure satisfactory results. 
Plants in flower should have all the air possible, otherwise they go 
“ blind.” When set, thin all the small fruit. Fumigate for green-fly. 
Introduce a fresh batch every ten days or so. 
Verbenas .—Now is the time for a general propagation ; any plants 
struck this month will be both early and strong; choose healthy, 
vigorous cuttings. 
Vinery .—Attend to the thinning of the berries in the early house as 
soon as possible after they are set. Stop laterals. Disbud Vines 
breaking, and stop and tie down shoots when fit. Start successional 
houses. Water well all inside borders, and keep a moist atmosphere, 
except when in flower. See directions last month. 
Tulips .—If the bed is well made and drained cold will not injure 
them during the present month, after which they will require protecting 
in bad weather. 
