G8 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Mahch, 
and moisture. The influence of the latter on the pith of Vines can hardly be 
over-estimated, for water is not only plant-food, but the great liberator and pre¬ 
parer of nearly all other sorts of aliment for plants. It also controls, moderates, 
or retards the processes of converting that food into produce. In excess it lowers 
the temperature of plants, probably obstructs the entry of light, and may thus, 
directly or indirectly, lead to the formation of an excess of pith. For the amount 
of light that is utilised by plants is assuredly the measure of their effective work, 
and governs the character of their products; while an excess of water within 
plants, or any portion of them, puts the drag on work, and hence, to a large extent, 
the influence of climate on the growth and character of all vegetable products. 
But these suggestions are offered, and I trust will also be accepted as mere 
guesses at truth, in a region in which our ignorance is dense, and our certain 
light nil^ or almost so. Hence, if they do not reach the pith of the matter, I 
hope they may nevertheless prove useful in enabling us to discover, perhaps, in 
the future, with more practical advantage than we have been able to do in the 
past, what is the matter with the pith, when that seems faulty or in excess. 
For it is highly probable that many cases of shanking and of failure, may have 
their cause in the pith of the Vine; and if so, we must look for means of im¬ 
proving the pith as nearly as possible out of the Vine, as the likeliest way to a 
cure, for it will be generally accepted as an axiom that the less pith the better.-— 
D. T, Fish, Hardioklce. 
VILLA GARDENING FOR MARCH. 
HUNDEED activities are now at work in the garden, and signs of move¬ 
ment abound on every hand. The old proverb tells us that “As the days 
lengthen, the cold strengthens,” and there are signs abroad that a spell of 
cold, perhaps severe, weather is at hand. The gardener must, therefore, 
be watchful, for things are getting very forward, and protection will be necessary 
if frost sets in. 
The Cold Greenlmise: Let us look round, and note what we have in bloom. 
There are Primroses, Polyanthuses, Triteleia miijiora^ Leucojum vernum^ Myosotis 
dissitijiora^ Aloe variegata^ Hyacinths, Scilla bifolia^ and S. sibirica, Primula 
denticulata^ and several varieties of Crocus verms. The foregoing represent a 
number of subjects that can be had in flower at this season of the year in a cold 
greenhouse—such a house as forms a part of many villa residences. Then 
to succeed these there are Auriculas, various species of Primida^ such as 
P. 2 )idcherrima^ marginaia., nivalis.^ intermedia.^ and amcena; Dodecatheon Meadia^ 
Anemone fulgens.^ TropcEolum tricolorum.^ and others too numerous to mention. 
And lest it should be thought this is a fanciful picture, let it be remarked that it 
is drawn from actual facts, and the enjoyment to be derived from such a floral 
possession is possible to many who have a fondness for flowers. A free circula¬ 
tion of air is necessary, and green-fly needs to be hunted out of the plants. In 
drying weather a supply of water is necessary, and any flowering plants should 
be shaded from the sun when it is warm and drying at mid-da}". 
The Warm Greenhouse: This should be gay with a great varietv of floral 
expression. Hyacinths, Azaleas, Camellias, Tulips, Narcissi, Oineranas, lioteia 
