MARCH. 
91 
mild and bright, it will be advisable to shade before the end of the 
month, for we have always found that unless the wood was well 
matured in autumn, the plants were peculiarly excitable in spring, 
pushing their wood buds on the occurrence of a few mild bright days ; 
and, it is to be feared that, as a rule, the wood was not as w^ell ripened 
last autumn as it should have been, hence every care should be 
exercised to avoid prematurely starting the plants into growth. 
Camellias which have done blooming should be placed in a gentle heat 
at once if they are likely to be wanted for early blooming next season ; 
but such as have bloomed very heavily, or from other causes are not 
pushing their wood buds, should be allowed a further rest, and those 
only which had their wood well up and promise to break freely should 
be placed in heat at present. See that the foliage is perfectly clear of 
insects and dust, &c., and also that the plants are in proper condition, 
as to pot room, &c., before placing them in heat; but those intended 
for early blooming should be rather under than over potted, otherwise 
they will be liable to make a second growth after setting their bloom 
buds, and either drop their buds or bloom very imperfectly. Gon- 
servatory .—Make every effort to keep up a good display of bloom here, 
and also to preserve the beauty of plants in bloom as long as possible. 
The temperature should be regulated so as to make it as suitable as 
can be done for the more important plants in the house; in most cases, 
45° at night and 5° to 15° higher during the day, according to the 
state of the weather, will be proper. If the weather proves bright and 
frosty, care must be used to prevent the plants being injured through 
want of moisture in the atmosphere, and the beds and borders and 
other available surfaces must be sprinkled sufficiently often to secure a 
healthy moist atmosphere ; and this attention will be especially necessary 
where there are many things in the house which have been forced into 
bloom in a damp warm house. Acacias, Camellias, &c., planted in the 
beds or borders must be freely supplied with water at the root while 
in bloom, and those which have done blooming should be cut back as 
much as may be necessary to secure a close bushy growth ; and if the 
soil about their roots is exhausted, as much should be removed from 
the surface as can be done without injuring the roots, replacing it with 
fresh compost mixed with bone-dust, small bones, or any other safe 
fertiliser. See that the permanent plants are not injured by aphis, 
which frequently makes its appearance upon the young wood; and as it 
is generally inconvenient to smoke here and troublesome to use any 
other efficient means, they are sometimes allowed to do considerable 
injury, and every day they are left unmolested adds to the difficulty of 
extermination, as well as exposes the plants to injury. By carefully 
applying a moderate dose of tobacco smoke when the plants are perfectly 
dry, and repeating this the following morning, the most delicate plant 
in bloom will hardly be injured, and the pest will easily be eradicated 
if taken immediately it is perceived. Cold Frames .—Keep stock plants 
from which cuttings are wanted close and moist to encourage growth, 
and be careful to keep them free from green-fly. Rush on the propa¬ 
gation of bedding-out stock with the the greatest possible dispatch; 
also get autumn-rooted cuttings which have been wintered in pans or 
