1877. ] 
VILLA GAEDENING FOR MARCH. 
69 
japonica^ Ericas, Epacris, &c., should be now in full bloom, or rapidly advancing 
to flower. Drying influences abound, for the sun shines out warmly, and the air 
is at times crisp and clear, and the soil in the pots soon dries. Watering at the 
roots, gentle syringings overhead, a free circulation of air suited to the weather, 
and shading as required, will now demand close attention. A kind of frame or 
pit in the warmest part of the house is of very great service for propagating- 
purposes, and cuttings of soft-wooded plants placed in pots or pans of a light 
sandy soil soon take root, if kept in them close and moist. Balsams, Primula 
sinensis^ Amaranths, and other tender things can be sown preparatory to a summer 
service. Cleanliness is all-important; nothing is so offensive in a greenhouse as 
plants in a filthy condition. 
Cold Frames: Here, as in the greenhouse, watering needs constant attention. 
What ought to occupy the cold frame at this time of year ? Among many use¬ 
ful things may be instanced Carnations, Picotees, Pinks, Phloxes, and Pentste- 
mons, raised from cuttings the previous autumn, as well as store-plants of bedding 
Lobelias, Hollyhocks, Delphiniums, &c. Happy are they who wintered their 
Pinks in cold frames, rather than trusted them to the tender mercies of the wet 
winter in the open ground! There has been a terrible loss among Pinks, and 
some collections are nearly destroyed. It will soon be necessary to get some of 
the hardiest plants out into the flower-borders, to make room for such of the 
bedding plants that will have to occupy the frames during the hardening 
process. 
Flower Garden: That most interesting part of a flower garden; the mixed 
Border, having been cleared as recommended last month, many things, such as 
Pseonies, Crown Imperials, Lilies, &c., will be fast coming through the soil, audit 
will be well to throw a little litter over them when frost threatens. Various bulbs, 
such as Bulhocodium vernum^ Grape Hyacinths, Dogtooth violets, single and double. 
Daffodils, and Crocuses are now in bloom; and Hepaticas, Aubrietias, Daisies, 
Phlox verna and P. subulata, Saxifraga granulata flore-pleno^ &c., should be coming 
on to succeed them. There are a whole host of beautiful things of this kind— 
cheap in price, easily managed, and delightful when in bloom. 
Seeds of certain things, such as Pansies, Pentstemons, Violas, Petunias, 
Marigolds, and anything of the kind used for the summer garden, should now be 
sown ; among them. Wallflowers for blooming early next spring. As a general 
rule. Wallflowers are sown too late, and instead of March should be sown in 
January or February, to have flowers as soon after Christmas as possible. 
Eoses may now be pruned, or at least the China kinds. These require little 
cutting-back further than regulating and thinning the leading shoots, and cutting 
away weakly or stunted wood. The pruning of Hybrid Perpetual Eoses should be 
postponed till the end of the month, or early in April, according to the weather. 
Clematises and other creepers should now be pruned and tidied up for the season. 
Kitchen Garden: The planting and sowing of Vegetable crops must be pro¬ 
ceeded with, as the weather proves favourable for doing so. Light soils can be 
worked in something like comfort, but heavy soils are still very clinging, owing to 
so much wet. Such soils should be broken up, so as to become dry enough for 
planting. Brussels Sprouts, Kales, Early Broccolis, Cabbages, Lettuces, Spinach, 
Parsley, and all requisite crops, with Peas and Beans for succession, should 
be sown as the weather serves, and the soil is got into a workable condition. The 
Early Pea and Bean crops will need hoeing between, as this proceeding greatly 
assists gi’owth. 
The pruning and nailing of wall-trees should be completed as soon as possible, 
as Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Plums are fast coming into bloom,—D. 
