1878.] 
VILLA GARDENING—FEBRUARY. 
27 
spent hops mixed together. The rains falling 
on the covering carry down into the pots rare 
fertilising influences ; the pots are snug and 
warm ; a vigorous root-growth soon commences, 
followed by the throwing up of strong flower¬ 
ing shoots, which pierce the covering and show 
above it. They get no attention, not even 
watering, unless the weather be exceptionally 
dry ; the rains of the late summer and the 
moist character of the covering keep the roots 
as damp as is necessary. Then, as soon as the 
sheath separates and shows the bud, the plants 
are taken into a stove, placed thickly on a stage, 
and kept well watered; and there they throw 
up trusses of bloom which in size and beauty 
are far beyond what one is accustomed to see 
in the Paper-white and Double Roman Nar¬ 
cissi grown in the ordinary way. Both are 
sweetly fragrant, and during November, Decem¬ 
ber, and onwards, the flowers find ready sale in 
the market. No plants of these are sent there 
on sale. 
Roman Hyacinths are treated somewhat 
differently. Their charming fragrant white 
blossoms are the first to appear of the im¬ 
ported roots, and rapid production is the rule. 
To have flowers only, the bulbs are put thickly 
in small pans, pots, or boxes, set into a striking- 
frame in a stove or propagating-kouse, in a brisk 
bottom-heat, and in a short time the flower- 
stems are thrust up almost before a leaf puts 
in appearance. The plants that are sent into 
Covent Garden Market so early in the winter 
are grown in pots, four or so bulbs being placed 
in a 48-pot, started into growth in heat, and 
brought on into flower in a rather cooler 
temperature. Thousands of Roman Hyacinths 
are grown in this way. 
The Tulips, Crocuses, Hyacinths, and later- 
blooming Polyanthus Narcissi come on about 
the middle of August. Crocuses are not 
much grown; but Tulips in great plenty, 
especially the white, rose, and scarlet Van 
Thol, Golden Prince, and one or two other 
early-flowering varieties. The Hyacinths are 
of certain early-blooming varieties also. 
The Tulips are in the first instance put in 
shallow wooden boxes, and stood out-of-doors 
under a coating of dung and hops, in the same 
way as the early-flowering Narcissi. Some of 
the Hyacinths and Narcissi are put in boxes 
also, but the great majority in pots, two or 
three in a pot. All are placed out-of-doors, 
under the manure covering, to start into growth. 
The advantage of growing Tulips in boxes is, 
that as they come into bloom, the earliest of 
them can be lifted and put into pots. This 
can be done up to the middle of February. 
After that, they are planted in and grown on 
in pots, as they would flag too much after being 
transplanted when the days lengthen, the sun 
is bright, and the atmosphere is warmer. 
The bulbs may be said to represent the first 
series of forcings. In the autumn, there are 
Poinsettias, Cyclamens, Bouvardias, Tuberoses, 
Mignonette, Richardias, Double White Primu¬ 
las, Pelargoniums, Eucharis, Gardenias, &c., 
coming into bloom, and the modes of growing 
and blooming these shall be treated of in sub¬ 
sequent papers.— Richard Dean, Ealing , IF. 
VILLA GARDENING—FEBRUARY. 
HAT extraordinary weather !” is the 
remark heard on every hand. In 
the autumn there were not wanting 
those who predicted a hard winter; but hero 
we have had the atmosphere as soft and balmy 
as in April, and as far as indications of wintry 
weather are concerned, they appear to exist as 
yet only in the imaginings of the prophets. 
The weather is now favourable to out-door 
gardening operations, and they, should be 
pushed on without delay. 
Greenhouse. —A little more fire-heat may 
be applied when the weather is dull and cold, 
as many early subjects are advancing into 
bloom, and a little artificial warmth is of great 
assistance. Cinerarias , Primulas , and other 
soft-wooded early-flowering plants, should bo 
kept as near the glass as possible, but where 
they can have a free circulation of air in favour¬ 
able weather. In a close atmosphere these 
plants draw, and green-fly gathers about the 
shoots. Plenty of water and air should now 
be given to all things that are growing freely, 
keeping the lights shut on the side of the wind, 
so as to avoid cold currents. Hard-wooded 
plants, and indeed any that have been kept 
dry all winter, will in many cases need to be 
plunged to the rim of the pot in a pail of tepid 
water, to thoroughly moisten the ball of earth 
before repotting is done. When this is not 
done in spring, plants like Azaleas , Epacris , and 
others, that form dense balls of fine roots, 
having once got dry, the water never after¬ 
wards wets the roots properly, but runs 
away down the sides of the pots, and after 
