4 
CALENDAR FOR THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 
made their appearance. Should any be visible, I 
dip the plants occasionally in soft-soap and I 
water. 0. citrosmum will also have commenced 
growth, and should be repotted where neces¬ 
sary, before the roots are far advanced. Some 
of the winter-flowering section of Cattleyas and 
Delias will also be starting, and will therefore 
need attention. Any which require repotting 
or surfacing should be attended to. C. labiata 
and C. Dowiana will be the first to require care. 
Good fibrous peat and clean crocks only should 
be used. Any Dendrobiums which have finished 
their flowering period and are starting afresh 
should also be potted or put into fresh baskets as 
need arises. Vanda Amesiana, V. ccerulea, and 
various other orchids which require repotting, 
should be attended to on the first available 
opportunity. 
Towards the end of the month, when the days 
lengthen and the sun has more power, it may 
be found advisable and necessary to put up the 
blinds, for many plants suffer more from sudden 
bursts of sunshine than if they were exposed 
to it continually. Blinds will also prevent the 
necessity of damping down too frequently, which, 
at this season of the year, owing to extremely 
low outside temperature at night, is apt to cause 
drip through the condensation of the moisture 
on the roof-glass. 
Hothouse. —Numerous plants in these struc¬ 
tures will be starting into growth, therefore 
potting will be general. If the necessary mate¬ 
rials were prepared last month, as then advised, 
the work may be taken in hand at the expiration 
of the first fortnight. All pots and drainage 
appliances should be perfectly clean. Most 
stove-plants succeed in a mixture of loam, leaf- 
mould, peat, and sand. There are, however, a few 
which need a special soil, as, for example, Ixoras, 
Dipladenias, Phryniums, &c., which thrive best 
in sandy peat. Particular care is needed in 
potting. Such plants as have thick fleshy roots 
should not have the soil made too firm, while 
those of a more fibrous nature take hold much 
better if it be pressed down hard. 
Gloxinias, Caladiums, and other bulbs, which 
have been lying dormant through the winter, 
should now be induced to commence growth. 
The former succeed best in sandy peat to 
which a little loam has been added. The latter 
require a rich, light, rough soil, so that their 
roots may ramify freely. The temperature should 
be increased to 65° at night in mild weather, 
and from 70° to 75° in the daytime. 
Intermediate House. — Gardenias, and 
other plants of a similar nature that require a 
temperature of from 55° to 60° and are now 
coming into flower, should be exposed to the 
light as much as possible. Weak manure-water 
should be given to those whose roots fill the pots, 
to assist them in swelling their buds. Many of 
the Java section of Rhododendrons should be 
potted before growth and root-action have made 
much progress. Most of the palms find the 
temperature of the intermediate house con¬ 
genial, and those should be potted which require 
it. They all succeed well in a compost of light 
rich loam, peat, and leaf-soil. They should be 
potted rather firmly, as many of them make a 
quantity of fibrous roots. Begonias of the 
tuberous-rooted kinds should be started into a 
renewal of growth. 
Forcing House. —Continue to introduce 
plants, to bring forward as recommended for 
last month. In addition to these, cuttings of 
various other plants may be rooted in this struc¬ 
ture. Among these may be included Perpetual 
Carnations for winter flowering, Heliotropes, 
Bouvardias, Harrison’s Musk, and various stove- 
plants. Many kinds of plants may now be 
raised from seed. 
Greenhouses and Conservatory. — This 
month is usually one of the most pleasant of 
the whole year in this department, as there are 
so many spring flowers that have been brought 
forward in heat, which will now be in bloom. 
Much care, however, will be needed to keep the 
flowers fresh, as probably the weather may be 
very changeable. 
Cinerarias, Cyclamens, Primulas, and other 
flowers of their class should now be had in 
abundance; while the numerous bulbs that have 
been brought forward all tend to make the con¬ 
servatory gay. Any climbers that need pruning 
should receive attention without delay, as the 
sap will soon be active. 
The propagation of various soft-wooded plants 
for summer flowering should be taken in hand. 
These include such as Petunias, Heliotropes, 
Pelargoniums, and Fuchsias. Fancy Pelargo¬ 
niums intended for early flowering should be 
removed to their final quarters. Many hard- 
wooded plants, particularly those that bloomed in 
the autumn or early winter, will now be starting 
into growth, and these should be repotted. Such 
climbers as Lapagerias, Tecomas, Rhynchosper- 
mums, &c., that need top-dressing or their border 
extending, should be looked to. Heaths and 
many New Holland plants will be revealing 
their flower-buds. If these require retarding 
for any special purpose, this should be done 
before the buds get too far advanced. For this 
