168 
THE FLORIST. 
stick; the most ready way is, to press them between the fingers * 
a pressure that will crush the insect will not injure the stems of 
the Pink. J. T. Neville. 
Ranunculuses. —The Ranunculus will require shading every clear 
day. Flake-hurdles are excellent as a first shade, as they admit 
abundance of air, and the use of them will give effect to the 
waterings which, without protection from the sun’s rays, are soon 
lost by evaporation. As the blossoms advance, a more effectual 
shade will be required, such as mats or canvass over hoops. The 
dark sorts require the greatest protection both from sun and rain; 
and in order to effect this, we have frequently planted a bed 
entirely of such colours, and given them extra coverings. Where 
this is not done, the choice blooms must be capped. The beds 
should be gone over with a small weeding-hook, to keep the sur¬ 
face from hardening and to stop cracks. This month the florist 
is to be rewarded for his trouble by the expanding blossoms of 
his new or old gems, and this will be the season for registering 
the characteristics of each flower. Some varieties, especially 
seedlings, produce more flower-buds than they ought to mature ; 
therefore disbud all laterals, and reduce the leaders to the number 
the plant appears capable of sustaining. For the purpose of 
obtaining seed, those varieties that offer a pericarp should be 
inoculated with pollen from such as afford it, and possess strik¬ 
ing colours and good petals. The more double the flowers are 
from which the farina is taken, the greater will be the probability 
of procuring double varieties. Tie up seed-bearing stems with 
two or three bands of matting to short sticks. Gather seed-pods 
when brown. Tyso and Son. 
Wallingford. 
Roses in Pots. —Bourbons, Perpetuals, Chinas, and Tea scented varie¬ 
ties, as they go out of bloom, should have their flower-stalks 
removed, and a good top-dressing given them, and then be placed 
in a shady situation if the weather is bright and sultry ; if cloudy 
and cool, they may be more exposed. This will prepare them for 
autumn flowering. Attention should be paid to keeping them 
free from the green fly. Succession plants should be placed in 
the glass-covered house, with abundance of air on all sides, and 
with arrangements for shading. The night air, and the syringe 
in the evening, will be found very beneficial. It does not answer 
to place Roses in pots under canvass, as with Tulips, &c. They 
soon fade in flower and foliage. John Dobson. 
Tulips. —As soon as the foliage turns brown, and the stem will bend 
without breaking, the bulbs will be in a fit state to take up. Be 
careful to keep the bulbs in the shade ; for one minute’s exposure 
to the rays of a hot sun will be very injurious, if not fatal to 
them. Let the bulbs be exposed to the air ; but it must be in a 
cool, dry, shady place. J. Hunt. 
Levey, Robson, and Franklyn, Great New Street, Fetter Lane. 
