92 
THE FLORIST. 
boxes potted off or planted in beds of light soil under glass, so as to 
secure strong vigorous plants by early planting-out tinae, and without 
having to place them in a close warm temperature. Sow seeds of choice 
half-hardy annuals wanted to bloom early; also Maurandyas and 
Lophospermums, and endeavour to have the whole stock of bedding- 
out plants rooted before the month is out, or at all events to have the 
cuttings put in. Flower Garden .—Any alterations in progress should 
be finished with the greatest possible dispatch, and the routine work 
pushed forward so as to have the garden neat and trim. Shrubs which 
have been greatly injured by the frost may be cut back so as to remove 
the unsightly and certain dead portions; but it would be useless to 
attempt to finally cut back such as are partially killed until it can be 
seen by the swelling of the buds what is really dead. Those who were 
fortunate enough to have a stock of Roses in pots under glass should 
make the most of these in the way of getting grafts off such as were 
not pruned, and cuttings from those forced for early blooming, for the 
stock of Roses has been very seriously reduced in many parts of the 
country; and as these are unquestionably the most beautiful of out-door 
plants, every effort should be used to get up a good stock. Here 
Roses on their own roots, or worked so low that the stock is buried in 
the soil, are alive ; but as to standards, and all which were not covered 
with the snow, nearly all are dead ; and 1 shall not again depend to 
any extent upon plants which are not upon their own roots, or worked 
so low that the point of union can be protected by being covered with 
the soil when planted. Greenhouse .—Those who wish to excel in the 
culture of what are termed greenhouse plants should after this time be 
able to find two houses for the accommodation of their stock; for young 
plants of such things as Boronias, Gompholobiums, Leschenaultias, &c., 
should now be encouraged by an amount of warmth and moisture 
which would be ruinous to specimen Ericas, &c. It may be true that 
good specimens of the more delicate New Holland plants are grown 
without the aid of an intermediate house, but this is generally done 
by keeping the plants growing in damp close pits late in autumn and 
when they should be ripening their wood; and plants got up in this 
manner are exceedingly liable to mildew, &c., during the winter. By 
starting young stock early a long season for growth is secured, and time 
left for getting the young wood well ripened up before winter. But 
where the convenience of an intermediate house is not at command the 
young stock should be placed together at one end of the house, and 
encouraged by being kept close and rather moist. For the general manage¬ 
ment of these—as also of the specimens, Ac.—look at last month’s 
directions. Do not allow the plants to suffer through the want of 
moisture in the atmosphere, but sprinkle the floors on the forenoons of 
bright drying days, and give air so as to save the plants from cold drying 
winds. Stove .—^Plants which were started early, such as Ixoras, 
Dipladenias, Ac., will now be growing vigorously, and must be care¬ 
fully tended with water at the root and kept free from insects. Such 
things as Dipladenias should have a few stakes placed for the shoots to 
run up ; for if these are left to twine amongst each other, it is a very 
troublesome job to get them separated. See that all young growing 
