JANUARY. 
29 
hour which can be spared from other work, to get the plants nicely 
tied, first repotting Ericas and other things which can safely be shifted 
at this season, if they require more pot-room. Leschenaultias, Pimelea 
Hendersoni, and some other hard-wooded things, are liable to be 
attacked by aphis in winter, and, except they are carefully looked after, 
to be greatly injured before it is perceived that they are infested, there¬ 
fore carefully examine these and everything likely to be attacked by 
this pest frequently, and smoke any plant immediately it is observed to 
require it. Use fire-heat as sparingly as possible, but do not allow the 
temperature to sink much below 40°. Give air whenever this can 
safely be done, but do not allow cold frosty winds to blow through the 
plants. The whole stock should be kept rather on the side of dryness 
at the root, but when a plant is considered to require water, give suf¬ 
ficient to moisten the ball throughout, watering in the morning ; and if 
necessary to expel superfluous moisture use a little fire-heat, with back 
air. Flower Garden .—If not already done, get the beds and borders 
neatly trimmed up, and if any spring-flowering bulbs have been left 
out until now, get these planted out as soon as possible. Keep the 
walks and Grass frequently rolled. If there is a short stock of any of 
the bedding-out plants these should be placed near the glass, in a moist 
warm house, to encourage growth and secure early cuttings ; but things 
not wanted to furnish cuttings at present should be kept as hard as 
possible, giving air freely on mild days, but protecting them securely 
against frost. Stove .—Prune and repot Echites or Dipladenias and 
Allamandas, shaking away as much of the old soil as can be done 
without injuring the tubers or principal roots ; also cut back Ixoras, 
and repot such as require more pot-room, and see that everything is 
perfectly free from insects. Plants of either of these wanted for early 
Uooming should be placed in the warmest part of the house, sprinkling 
them overhead with the syringe morning and evening, but such as have 
been partially disrooted must be very carefully watered until they start 
into free growth. Also prune and thoroughly clean Stephanotis, and 
Cleroderidron splendens, and repot if necessary ; but these bloom more 
freely when rather pot-bound. Towards the end of the month a lot of 
Gloxinias, Achimenes, Clerodendrons, &c., if wanted for early blooming, 
may be repotted and placed in the cool end of the house. Temperature 
()0° to 70°, keeping the atmosphere in a healthy state as to moisture. 
Hardy Fruit .—Proceed with the pruning and nailing of wall fruit- 
trees, such as Pears, Plums, Cherries, and Apricots; every favourable 
opportunity should be taken to forward this work, more especially if 
the weather is wet, so that the ground work in the kitchen garden 
cannot be carried on. All standard fruit-trees may be pruned, and if 
they are infested with Moss the stems and large branches should be 
scraped or scrubbed with a broom, and afterwards dressed with a mix¬ 
ture of lime-water, soot, and urine. Root prune dwarf standard Apple 
and Pear trees, if they are unfruitful or growing too strong; this is done 
by digging a trench round the tree, two or three feet from the stem, 
according to the size of the tree, and cutting the large roots. It is also 
a good plan to lift small bush trees every alternate year, to keep them 
