46 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
for if you wait until there are thousands which 
you can see with your naked eye, there will be 
also tens of thousands which you cannot see 
without the aid of glasses. The evening or 
during wet weather is the best time to perform 
this operation, or an artificial shower may be 
effected, by using the engine or syringe on the 
outside of the structure, and thereby filling up 
the laps of the glass with water. All this may 
appear troublesome, but if you do not keep the 
plants clean, you cannot reasonably expect 
them to thrive ” ; and now that many plants 
are getting into budding growth, green-fly 
will gather rapidly, and no quarter must 
be given them. Fuchsias that have been 
put by to rest during the winter now need at¬ 
tention, as they are starting into growth ; the 
plants need to be turned out of their pots, the 
roots trimmed by removing the long main ones, 
leaving any small fibres, and repotting the plants 
in as small pots as will take them, using a fine 
light rich soil. Then, as soon as they break 
freely into growth, the branches should be cut 
back to the strongest shoots, leaving a good 
regular frame-work out of which to grow a fine 
specimen. The best Fuchsias for an amateur 
are those raised from cuttings struck in August 
and wintered in small pots; now is the time to 
repot them, for growing on rapidly and well. 
Cut-back plants of Heliotropes , one of the sweet¬ 
est of early summer-blooming plants in the con¬ 
servatory, should be similarly treated; and there 
are other subjects that will suggest themselves to 
the villa gardener, among these Zonal Pelargo¬ 
niums , for the summer display. As an increase in 
growth in all plants is now taking place, a more 
liberal allowance of water must be given, and a 
well-managed house begins to repay the care 
bestowed on the subjects during the winter, for 
Ericas , Epacrises , Cyclamens , Cinerarias , Camel¬ 
lias, Hyacinths , Narcissi , &c., are getting gay. 
Cleanliness, air, light, and water are now the 
great essentials, and last, but not least, room. 
Plants are often too much crowded, but it is 
better to grow fewer plants and grow them well, 
than to have a large number with but few good 
specimens. Remove the surface earth in pots 
that has become moss-covered and sour ; a little 
good soil added as a top-dressing does much 
good to them. 
Cold Greenhouse.— Much of the remarks 
just given applies here also, for airiness, room, 
and cleanliness are all-important. In the 
warmest portion of the house, Cyclamens , 
Cinerarias , Primulas , and such-like will do 
well, but they are all the better for a little 
warmth. In our own house, berried Solanums 
are still gay ; and the cold frame is supplying 
Primroses , Polyanthuses , Scilla sibirica , Tri- 
teleias , Anemone fulgens, Hepaticas, Hellebores 
especially Ilelleboruscolchicus, Crocus , and other 
spring-flowering bulbs. Earge-flowered Pelar¬ 
goniums have wintered admirably, but as they 
are very apt to become affected with green-fly, 
much close attention is requisite. That most 
fragrant of spring flowering plants, Aponogeton 
distachyon , is blooming freely in a small tank. 
It is well not to unduly push forward any 
plants; give them plenty of air, and let Nature 
do her work in her own time. 
Flower Garden.— Any last touches required 
to put the flower garden in order before the 
summer season comes on should now be given. 
Grass-plots should be levelled and rolled, so 
that there may be a firm, even surface for the 
scythe or mowing-machine. Box Edgings 
should now be replanted where required, all 
kinds of shrubs thinned and shortened back, 
and the soil about them made neat and tidy. 
The orderly appearance of the surroundings of 
a flower garden have much to do with en¬ 
hancing its appearance. Thin-out and nail-up 
Creepers , also Climbing Roses; but as nailing 
occupies a great deal of time, it is a great saving 
of labour to train them to galvanised wire- 
netting, fastened to the wall behind the plants. 
Towards the end of the month prune Roses , 
and mulch with some rotten dung. Clematises 
are very active, and the strong summer-bloom¬ 
ing varieties of which Jachnanni is such a con¬ 
spicuous type, should be cut back almost close 
to the ground, when they are required to cover 
low walls and fences ; but if they are required 
to get up high, they should be shortened back 
accordingly. When pruning is done, fork the 
soil gently about the roots, and mulch with 
manure. The spring-flowering Clematises must 
not be cut back, but the dead wood cut out 
merely. Keep the surface-soil of the mixed 
border cleansed and well stirred in drying 
weather, and top-dress with leaves and dung. 
Cold Frames. —Plenty of air is now the 
rule, and when the weather is mild, but with a 
soft rain falling, a gentle shower will do no 
harm. When there is a strong wind and driving 
rain, tilt up the lights at the side opposite to 
that from which the wind is blowing. Auri¬ 
culas and Polyanthuses should be top-dressed 
without delay ; the latter are rapidly coming 
into bloom. Make a note of the lilac variety 
of Triteleia uniflora to grow in pots ; it is 
charming in colour and very free. Bedding- 
plants in store-boxes must now have water 
when required, and be gone over occasionally 
to pick off all damp and decaying leaves. 
Kitchen Garden. — rispara^RS-beds should 
now be dressed with well-rotted manure, fork¬ 
ing it in lightly, so as not to injure the crowns. 
Those who are fond of Jerusalem Artichokes 
should now plant a few, much as Potatos are 
planted. Sow Beans and Peas for successive 
crops, selecting the dwarf, wrinkled varieties of 
the latter for small gardens. Sow also Celery , 
Brussels Sgnouts , James's Intermediate , and 
