4G 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
of fine light soil in it, and with a covering of 
some kind to protect from frost and cold 
winds, and also to give shade, answers well. 
Zinnias , Stocks , Asters , Phlox Drummondii , He- 
lichrysum , &c., can he raised in this way. Old 
borders should be trenched up, and the peren¬ 
nial plants divided and replanted ; they will 
become much better in consequence, if some 
good stuff be put in about the roots. Chry¬ 
santhemums should be propagated now; by 
cuttings is the best method, or by dividing the 
old plants. A cold frame answers well for 
them ; if too much heat is used, they become 
drawn up and weakly. Plant out such hardy 
plants as have been kept over the winter in 
cold frames. Pot Carnations and Picotees in 
small pots, for growing on into size for blooming 
in pots in July, and place them in a north 
aspect. 
Greenhouse. —Such plants as Cinerarias , 
Primulas , Genistas , Cytisus , Pelargoniums , 
and others coming into flower, must have as 
much light as possible, and plenty of air on 
bright days ; but cold, dry, frosty winds will 
do much mischief, unless care is taken to 
screen the plants from its effects. Where it 
can be done, Fuchsias should be got into free 
growth, being kept in the warmest part of the 
house, and syringed on favourable occasions. 
All rapid-growing plants that require it should 
be stopped, especially Pelargoniums , so as to 
get them into a good shape. 
In the propagating and cutting frame, a 
good, steady heat must be kept up, for the in¬ 
crease of all kinds of bedding plants, &c. 
Verbenas should be put into a high, moist 
temperature, in rather sandy soil. They will 
soon root, and if potted and replaced in heat, 
till the roots take with the new soil, they can 
then be placed in a close frame, and air in- 
.creased as the plants begin to grow. This 
will serve to indicate how other bedding plants 
can be treated. Calceolarias, and other plants 
of a hardier character, can be planted out in a 
sunk frame or pit, if pots are scarce. It does 
the plants good to turn them into rough 
soil, where they will root freely, and can be 
lifted out with balls at planting-time. The 
propagating-frame can be made very useful for 
starting Achimenes , Gloxinias , Gesneras , &c., 
into growth. 
Cold Frame. —It is now an active time with 
many of the occupants of the frame. Prim¬ 
roses , Polyanthuses , Pinks , Carnations , Dielytra , 
Lily of the Valley , &c., are flashing into growth. 
We have enjoyed some warm sunshine of late, 
and it has done much good to the plants. 
When the weather is fine and genial, all these 
plants must have as much air as possible, using 
the lights to keep off heavy rains. Warm, 
gentle rains do a great deal of good. Slugs 
and other vermin require to be well looked 
after. In spring they appear to possess vora¬ 
cious appetites, and devour the young growths. 
Pansies in pots should have their side-shoots 
tied out, and the plants that are growing fast 
treated to some manure-water. We should 
like to know that suburban gardeners were 
turning their attention to this beautiful and 
interesting class of plants, for they are well 
deserving a little care in the way of growth in 
pots.— SUBURBANUS. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
f HE Annual General Meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society took 
place in the Council-room at South 
Kensington, on February 10th, Lord Aberdare in the 
chair. The chairman, in moving the adoption of 
the report, explained that the Council considered it 
their duty to remain in possession of the gardens as 
long as they could, in order to protect the interests 
of the debenture-holders until the Chancery suit 
now pending between her Majesty’s Commissioners 
and the Society had been decided. It was clearly 
the duty of the Society to leave no stone unturned 
to get the best terms they could, both for the de¬ 
benture-holders and themselves. The past year had 
been an unfortunate one all round, and doubly so 
in their case. The fortnightly meetings had, how- 
ever, been of an unusually excellent character; 
still, the stars in their courses had fought against 
them; the Council had sowed liberally, but had 
reaped badly, their receipts not coming up to 
their expenditure by about £600. They had, how¬ 
ever, some resources to fall back upon which would 
enable them to start the year without any great 
burden upon their shoulders, but that would no 
longer justify them in running any risks. A good 
deal of the expenditure of the past year was of an 
exceptional character, and with a proper regard to 
economy, he had no doubt they would this year be 
able to balance their accounts. They had abolished 
Fellow’s entrance-fees, so that the new Fellows had 
only to pay the annual subscriptions—a circum¬ 
stance which he trusted would lead to an accession 
during the year of a greater number of new mem¬ 
bers. The report was unanimously adopted. Among 
the new members elected on the Council are Sir H. 
Scudamore Stanhope, Bart., and the Rev. H. Harpur 
Crewe. 
— ®he Annual Meeting of the Man¬ 
chester Botanical and Horticultural 
Society took place on January 19tk, tlie 
president, the Earl of Derby, in the chair, when the 
report of the council was adopted. Dr. Watts 
stated, with reference to the society’s garden at 
Old Trafford, that their long range of glasshouses, 
which were erected fifty-two years ago, were giving 
way as regarded the framing rapidly, and they must 
contemplate a considerable outlay for their renewal. 
Mr. Findlay, the secretary, proposed to make the 
long range semicircular, starting from the first 
exhibition-house and running back over land which 
was now, at any rate to a great many of the pro¬ 
prietors, terra incognita, and by which means 
greater space would be afforded, especially for pro¬ 
menading. Ou the motion of Dr. Watts, seconded 
by Samuel Barlow, Esq., it was also resolved 
“ That the council be at liberty to issue sixpennv 
