280 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
where wanted, and the beds will be ready for digging when in a dry condition 
for so doing. ^ Continue planting bulbs and hardy plants as occasion offers, and 
when the soil is suitably dry. Where standard Hoses are doing badly on grass they 
should be lifted, and the soil renewed with some that is stronger and richer. 
Where this is not practicable, a good deal of vigour may be introduced in May 
and June, when growth is free, by watering with strong liquid manure made from 
sheep-droppings or the like. This is a good time to form beds of any of the 
old-fashioned Hoses, such as the Moss and Provence varieties; the soil should 
be made strong and rich, and deeply dug. It is not often we see an entire bed 
of the old White Bath Moss, yet many of us would do well to get fifty and plant a 
bed, and edge it with the old Cabbage Rose. After all, these old friends are the 
sweetest of roses. 
Conservatory: Water liberally Camellias that are opening their fiowers; and 
any of the plants which are sure to be dirty in the leaf, not yet sponged, should 
be done before the flowers open. Camelhas really require more water at this 
season, or rather when they are opening their flowers, than at any other time of 
the year. Those long shoots that on healthy planted-out plants always appear 
more or less over the plant, and which as a. rule have no flower-buds, should be 
cut off gradually as wanted, for decoration ; these shoots last a long time mixed 
with flowers, and are highly appreciated at this season. The shoots thus 
shortened make an early growth, and carry the following year our finest flowers, 
and also the earliest. Any Tree-ferns wanting more pot or tub-room should be 
seen to ^ and the soil got ready; they are not particular as regards soil, pro- 
. viding it is free, healthy, and non-calcareous ; and, as a rule, what will grow 
good Camellias will grow tree-ferns ; like them, too, they thrive best in a planted- 
out state. Azaleas should be carefully watered, and kept in a uniform state as 
to moisture j where early flowers are an object one or two may be placed in some 
warm house, but those only that have their buds very prominent should be 
selected for this purpose. Most people concur in this opinion, that the less 
Azaleas are trained the better, but any shoots longer than the rest sticking out 
frona the general centre should be cut off and not tied-in. It is this beginning 
to tie-in the strong shoots that produces the ill-managed twisted specimens 
which are too often seen in. collections. 
Stove . Hananas here should not be forgotten with regard to water, for they 
are for ever in want. Give those swelhng-off fruit a liberal dose or two of 
liquid manure, heated to 80 , and keep the surface and floor moist in open 
weather, withholding moisture on frosty days. Give Poinsettias the lightest 
place here. The Monstera deliciosa makes a very ornamental and noticeable 
plant, on account of its peculiar perforated leaves and curious fruit 5 it is an 
oddity worth growing, and does well planted out in the banana-beds. The old 
pnckly Euphorbia splendens is a useful plant, and nearly always in flower ^ it 
should be kept dry for a week or two, and it will then flower very freely in 
spring, and come in very useful; it will bear pruning and shaking out if in an 
unruly and unhealthy state. Late GesneraS’—Barlowi and exoniensis —will be 
now useful for the table and house"decoration, and those in a very small state 
more particularly so. Give new leaves or tan to Gardenias, if in a bed by them¬ 
selves, and before they begin to make growth thoroughly, clean them of every 
sign of insect and dirt. Eucharts amazonica planted out or in pots throwing 
up flowers should gradually have water withheld, for they keep longer in flower 
thus than in a wet condition, which is a necessary condition when making new 
growth; the atmosphere, too, should be lower in proportion. Calanthes should 
hav 6 water withheld altogether, and the spikes of flowers supported as they 
