42 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
that the plants may get dry before night. The collection of bedding plants 
should be carefully looked over, and if the stock be not sufficient of any 
kind, preparations should be made at once to increase them, by putting 
some plants into heat, in order to encourage them to grow and produce 
cuttings. A small hotbed will be found very useful to receive cuttings, 
also fresh-potted plants. Pelargoniums may now be increased rapidly by 
cuttings. Spring-struck cuttings of Verbenas are generally best for 
summer bedding. Iresine, Lobelia, and many other plants are also rapidly 
increased by cuttings in spring. Pelargoniums in store pots and boxes 
should now be potted-off, and put into a little heat to make fresh roots. 
Air should be given freely to the plant houses in mild weather, and as the 
days lengthen the plants will require more attention in watering, and 
should therefore be looked over frequently, to see that none are suffering 
from want of it. Towards the end of the month make preparations for the 
general shifting of the plants ; get soils in readiness ; have plenty of crocks 
of different sizes broken ; and have all pots well washed. 
All out-door work should be in a forward state, as the autumn and 
winter have, on the whole, been very favourable. Alterations still in 
progress should be pushed forward. Look carefully over beds of Pinks, 
Carnations, Pansies, &c., and if the plants have been loosened by the frost, 
make them secure. This is a good time to plant Eoses. The soil should be 
trenched or dug deeply, and well enriched by manure ; when planted they 
should be well mulched, and the standard trees should be tied neatly to stakes 
to prevent them being moved about. Towards the end of the month the 
more hardy kinds may be pruned. Briars for budding may be planted. 
This is a good time to plant Alpine plants, which deserve to be much more 
generally cultivated than they are. Trees and shrubs may still be planted, 
but the sooner the better, as they require a good deal of attention to 
insure their well-doing, especially when the spring is dry and frosty, with 
cold winds. 
The operations in the kitchen garden depend in a great measure on the 
state of the weather. But though little can be done if the weather be wet 
or frosty, still if, as sometimes occasionally happens, the weather is 
fine during the latter part of the month, and the soil dry, the most should 
be made of such an opportunity. A good sowing of early Peas and another 
of Broad Beans should be made ; also a sowing of early Horn Carrots, and 
of Parsnips ; and if the land be sufficiently dry during the last w T eek in the 
month, a portion of the Onion crop may be sown. Cauliflowers, Cabbages, 
Savoys, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuces, and Badishes should be sown in beds on 
a warm border. Some round Spinach and Parsley may also be sown. 
Shallots and G arlic may be planted. Plant early Potatos; it is best to 
sprout them in a little heat; when this is done and they are planted on a 
