EXTRACTS — FLORICULTURE. 
469 
coarse hay litter during severe weather; and this covering ought more particularly 
to be given them in February, because their trusses then begin to appear, which, 
if frozen hard, will shew the ill effects of it in the bloom. These want very little 
water in the winter, and seem to get through it best, when kept in December and 
January rather dry than otherwise. Early in February, if the weather happen to 
be mild and open, give them a day’s gentle rain, or, at least, rain sufficient to 
reach their roots, at the bottom of the pots; and this may be repeated when ne¬ 
cessary throughout the month. Now give them manured water twice, and do the 
same in March, allowing a week between each watering. About the middle of 
the month, or as soon afterwards as the weather permits, top dress with some of 
the best and richest compost; taking care in the first place to remove from the 
top of the pots as much of the earth as you can without injury to the roots. The 
liquid manure and the top dressing will add fresh life and vigour to the plants, 
and accelerate their growth- They now have occasion for all the air you can give 
them. If any plants require shifting into larger pots, this is the time for the 
operation. 
March .—To ensiu*e a good bloom, much depends upon the care taken of them 
in March.—Let them receive no check whatever, either from want of covering or 
want of water. Let the lights be off all day, if the weather be in any degree fa. 
vourable; and let the plants receive all the soft and gentle rains that fall, until 
the pips open, but protect them from cold sleet and snow, and cutting winds. 
By the middle of March, the flower stalks will have shot up, and the flower buds 
will begin to grow: and as these are the tenderest parts, and most liable to injury 
from frost, which often prevails mere or less by night, at this season of the year, 
it is highly necessary to give them additional covering, to prevent their being 
chilled and nipped by it. Neither expose them too hastily to the sun, if it should 
happen to shine, before the frost has disappeared; and let the same precaution 
be used in April. To prevent the stalks being drawn up and weakened, so that 
they cannot support the trusses, let them have all the air possible. Thus having 
nothing to retard or check their growth, they cannot fail to go on well, and pro¬ 
duce large trusses of rich bloom. 
April .—By the end of the first or second week in April, the flowers will begin 
to expand, and shew their colours; and then the lights must be kept on by day 
and night, to prevent their being washed by the rain, or tarnished by the sun, 
either of which would deaden their brilliancy, and spoil their beauty. Air must 
be given by raising the lights at the back of the frames; and mats must be thrown 
over them, to keep out the hot sun, during the middle part of the day. Let the 
frames be shut close in the evening, and a warm covering be continued a while 
longer, in case of frost. Besides, this is the time to thin out the crowded pips 
from the centre of the trusses, which will give more room to the rest to grow, to 
expand themselves, and to lie flat, and come more nearly of a size. When the 
plauts are fully blown, let the best and strongest of them be taken out of the 
frames and be set on boards, sand, or coal ashes, behind a low fence, or private 
hedge, and covered with large hand glasses. Here they will remain cool, and 
shaded, and preserve their blossoms fresh for three weeks. Cover them with a 
mat at night. As soon as the flowers begin to fade, remove them to a north or 
north-east aspect, where they will have to remain till November, at which time 
you should be provided with a couveuiency for placing them on a raised platform, 
and to shelter them from the sun and rain with boards or shutters, hung on hinges 
