THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
411 
February 23. 
! inpr. Such a bod will, also, be necessary for starting Cockscombs and 
Balsams, &c. Strong, early, winter-flowering Primulas should he 
sown the end of this month ; and Cinerarias intended for the same 
purpose the month following. Insects, destroy. Leaves and Stems, 
clean ; a little soap and water is a great auxiliary for removing all kinds 
of filth ; syringe with clean water afterwards. Lilies, Japan, after the 
stems appear, place in a light, airy situation. Mignonette, and tender 
annuals, sow in slight hotbeds, in pots, turf, &c., to be afterwards har¬ 
dened off. Soil, prepare, turn, and expose for a general shifting about 
the end of the month ; but do not knock about fresh soil intended for 
I potting so as to shake the fibre out of it. Primula sinensis will be 
greatly benefited by manure-water. The double varieties are well worth 
I a little extra attention, as the flowers stand a long time in a bouquet. 
i Train large plants of Pelargoniums intended for early flowering; 
Stop those for late summer and autumn. Scarlet Geraniums, in¬ 
tended for specimens in pots, give good shifts to, and if they can get a 
little bottom-heat they will come all the stronger and bloom the finer. 
Tie climbers to rafters, after duly pruning them, keeping in mind whether 
the flowers are produced on young or old wood ; train daily those on 
trellisses ; and, as the season is now getting on, let neatness, order, and 
cleanliness, everywhere prevail. Watering will now be more wanted, 
and a moistish atmosphere in clear weather, to counteract the drying 
effects of east winds. Syringing the leaves with tepid water, after a 
sunny day, is as good for a plant as soap and water is for our own skins. 
Unless in extreme cases fire-heat will not be so much wanted. Old 
Scarlet Geraniums, stored past, should now be brought into the light, 
top-dressed, See. R. Fish. 
ORCHID HOUSE. 
Akrides, and other similar Indian plants, will this month be growing 
rapidly; give them fresh sphagnum, if in wire baskets ; if in wooden 
ones, renew them, and bring the roots within the baskets amongst the 
fresh sphagnum. Air, give more abundantly as the days lengthen, and 
the sun obtains more power. Blocks. —The plants on these must be 
syringed twice a-day at least, as they will now be growing rapidly. 
Baskets, —Dip these in the cistern twice a-week ; if very dry, allow 
them to remain in the water an hour or so, till the hard lumps of peat are 
thoroughly wetted. Barkerias, set to work, by giving water freely. 
Pot Catasetums, Cycnocues, and other similar-habited plauts; they 
will now be growing. Dendrobes, 6ee last month. Such as are in 
flower remove, if possible, to a cooler house; they will then last much 
longer in bloom ; those growing repot. Heat, towards the end of the 
month bring up to the maximum. Indian House , 80° to 85° by day, 70° 
by night, Mexican House , 70° to 75° by day, 6o° by night. The highest 
heat to be when the sun shines. Insects, keep a watchful eye upon, 
and destroy the moment they are perceived. Moisture in the Air, 
keep up a large amount of, by keeping the walks, platforms, and walls 
frequently flooded. Potting, proceed with, and finish before the end of 
the month. Now is the time to increase orchids, by division or other¬ 
wise. Shading. —About the middle of the month place the shades upon 
the roof, to be ready for use, as the sun will soon be so powerful as to be 
dangerous. Stanhope as, now growing, put in fresh compost in large 
baskets. Steam, where possible, admit amongst the plants. Watering 
at the Root must now be regularly given, but care taken that it 
does not lodge upon the leaves or in the hollow of the young shoots. 
T. Appleby. 
PLANT STOVE. 
Achimbnes advancing in growth, give water to, but do not flood 
them in this early season ; repot such as have filled their pots with 
roots; pot a batch to succeed the former ones. Air, give now freely 
in mild weather ; take care the apertures for the admission of air are not 
directly opposite the plants, it is best to come over the pipes or flues, 
to be heated before it reaches the plants. Amaryllis aulica, and 
varieties, repet, and place in heat. Aphelandras, repot. Baskets. 
Place in these JEschynanthus, Acliimenes , some Lycopodiums, and other 
hanging-down plants ; they ornament the stove greatly. There are 
some baskets, made of coloured glass, that are very ornamental objects 
filled with proper plants, Climbers will now be growing fast; attend to 
training and thinning shoots; in pots place fresh trellisses to, and keep 
the plants constantly trained around them. Cuttings continue to put 
in ; pot off such as have rooted. Heat, increase to 70° by day, 6o° by 
night; winter-blooming plants gone out of bloom cut in severely, and 
place in a cool house to rest. Ixoras, repot, stop, and tie out; place 
them in a frame heated with dung; here they grow rapidly and soon 
make fine plants. Insects, continue to watch for and destroy. Potting, 
finish the spring, by the end of the month. Syringe freely morning 
and evening, and keep the paths flooded in sunshine. Water will now 
be required in large quantities to fast growing plants. Let the walks 
be frequently washed out, and every yellow leaf removed, every plant 
neatly tied, and decaying flowers removed as they occur. 
T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS* 
Anemonies, double, protect from frost. Auriculas and Poly¬ 
anthuses will now be showing their flower-stems. In this stage 
they will require constant attention. Top-dressing, if not done, must 
be finished the first week ; water regularly in pretty liberal quan¬ 
tities ; if allowed to flag now the blooms will be small. Give plenty 
of air daily, and shade from bright sun towards the end of the month ; 
cover up securely at night whenever there is the least appearance 
of frost; sow seed, and pot last year’s small seedlings to encourage 
growth. Calceolarias, repot, prick out seedlings, give plenty of air 
to, and smoke frequently with tobacco. Carnations and Picotees, 
put into their blooming pots. Search the soil over minutely to find 
j wireworms, and destroy them previously to using. Place them when 
I potted upon a bed of coal-ashes, with a convenience of hoops and mats 
to shelter them from severe weather. Should mildew appear, dust with 
sulphur; and destroy green fly with tobacco-water or Scotch snuff. 
Cinerarias finish potting, b.; smoke frequently to destroy every green 
fly soon as it appears; water freely, and shade from bright sun as the, 
flowers open. Chrysanthemums pot off into small pots and repot, b. 
in a size larger. Dahlias, all intended to be potted should now be 
done ; pot off cuttings as soon as rooted, and put in more cuttings if 
required. Divide the old roots, leaving a bud or two to each division ; 
place each division in a pot, and allow them to grow slowly till planting 
time ; a cold frame, well protected from frost, will be shelter enough for 
them. Fuchsias, repot; cuttings may yet be put in. Begin to train 
early, in order to form well-shaped plants, Hyacinths ; tic the flower- 
stems to sticks, to prevent the winds from breaking them off'; continue 
to shelter the bed by hoops and mats. Hollyhocks, plant out where 
they are to bloom ; place a mulch of short litter round each plant. 
Pansies, top-dress ; in pots, lay down the shoots round the plant, cut 
the stems half through to induce roots; shelter from heavy rains and 
severe frosts. Pelargoniums, pot young plants; top-dress old ones, 
and tie out to form large, spreading specimens; smoke frequently, to 
destroy green fly ; when the flower buds appear, give liquid-manure 
every third time watering. Pinks, top-dress, b., if not tlone last month. 
Ranunculuses may yet be planted, b.; shelter the bed from heavy 
rain, frost, hail, or snow. Tulips will now be growing fast; shelter 
the young plants from heavy rain, or other severe weather; if rain falls 
during the day, and a sharp frost intervenes at night, and no protection 
is given, the young leaves will be much injured. Verbenas, in pots for 
exhibition, repot, tie out, and nip off the tops of the shoots ; shelter both 
these and those intended to plant out from frost ; smoke frequently to 
keep down green fly, and syringe occassonally with sulphur-water to 
destroy or prevent the red spider; put in cuttings of scarce sorts ; sow 
seed ; look for slugs constantly in the frames under the pots, or any 
other lurking place, and destroy them. Finish planting Roses, and 
place those in pots in a warm house, to be coming on for the June or 
July exhibitions. T. Appleby. 
KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Tnis is a busy month—every day brings its work ; a favourable oppor¬ 
tunity should never be lost for doing any particular kind of work ; take 
advantage of open mild weather for every kind of planting ; in taking up 
transplanted plants from nursery beds of any kind, or at any time, 
always lift them up with some kind of tool or other, as a plant thus 
transplanted always suffers so much less than a plant drawn from the 
secd-bed. Angelica, sow, or plant, e., autumn-sown. Alexanders, 
sow, m. ore. Asparagus, sow or plant, e.; and dress off out-door beds ; 
attend to that in forcing, water with liquid-manure once a week. Arti¬ 
chokes and Balm, plant. Basil, sow a little for early use. Beans, 
plant; and earth-stir growing crops. Beet (Red), sow a little for early 
use. Borage, sow, and earth-stir autumn-sown, and thin out. Borecole, 
sow, m. Brocoli, sow a little of the early kinds, and mark any favorite 
kinds for seed. Burnet, plant or sow. Cabbages. —Any early kinds 
may be sown, or Red Dutch, should plants be w anted. Capsicums, sow, 
to forward in hotbed, b. Cardoons, sow, e., for firstcrop. Carraway, 
sow. Carrots, sow for early crops; attend to thinning-out those in 
growth, and earth-stirring; sowings of the Early Horn may still be made 
on gentle hotbeds, Cauliflowers, plant out the winter-protected ; 
attend to *pring-sf$8&, as to airing, pricking-out, and earth-stirring ; 
also assist the early hand-glass crop with soakings of liquid-manure, &c.; 
and sow in succession, e. Celeriac, sow. Celery, sow main crop,m., 
and prick out early-sown on gentle hotbed; leave for seed. Chamo¬ 
mile, plant. Chervil, sow; save seed from autumn sown. Chives 
may be divided, and planted out. Clary, sow, e. Cress (American), 
sow. Composts, prepare. Coriander, sow. Corn Salad, sow. 
Cucumbers, ridge out; pot off; or sow in succession; sow also to¬ 
ward the middle of the month, for planting-out under the hand-glasses 
next month ; attend to those in bearing ; keep up a good moist heat. 
Dill, sow or plant. Earth-stirring, attend to in all cases, and often. 
Fennel, sow or plant. Garlic, finish planting. Hoeing, attend to in 
dry days. Horehound, plant or sow. Horseradish, finish planting. 
Hyssop, sow, or take up and divide old roots. Jerusalem Artichokes, 
finish planting. Kidney-beans, sow in succession ; attend to those in 
bearing, assist them with liquid-manure. Leeks, sow. Lettuces, 
sow; prick out ; and plant out. Marigold, sow. Sweet or Knotted 
Marjoram, sow a little for early use. Marjoram (Common Garden), 
divide and plant out. Melons, sow in succession, and ridge out; attend 
to earthing-up, training, &c., the early crops. Mint, plant. Mush¬ 
room-beds, make, and attend to ; assist old beds with a little tepid 
manure water. Mustard and Cress, sow, once or twice a week. 
Nasturtiums, sow, e. Onions, sow the main crop ; plant for seed, b, ; 
also finish planting the Underground or Potato Onion ; also the Tree 
Onion ; and look over those in the store. Orach, sow. Parsley, both 
kinds, sow. Parsnips, sow, b. Peas, sow in succession ; the beginning 
of this month, is a good season to sow any of the tall kinds ; earth-stir, 
or earth-up, and attend to sticking, Sec. Pennyroyal, plant. Pota¬ 
toes, finish planting, either in hotbed or open quarter. Radishes, 
sow in succession ; attend to thinning-out young crops. Rampion, sow. 
Rape, sow common, and edible-roottd, c. Rhubarb, sow or plant, b. 
Rochambole and Rosemary, plant. Rue, plant. Sage, plant. 
Shallots, finish planting. Salsapy and Scorzonera, sow a little 
for early use. Savoys, sow. Seakale, sow or plant out; attend to 
early covering-up, to exclude the light from the crowns, for successional 
and late crops. Skirrets, sow, e. Succory, sow. Sorrel, plant or 
sow. Spinach, sow in succession. Tansey and Tarragon, plant. 
Thyme, sow or plant. Tomatoes, sow in hotbed, e. Turnips, make a 
small sowing two or three times during the month. T. Weaver 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ 
Church, City of London.—February 23rd, 1854. 
