87 
APF.IL. 
founder of the well-known nurseries of Dick¬ 
son, Brothers, of Edinburgh, and , the last 
of his immediate descendants engaged in the 
nursery business. . He left Edinbuigh at an 
early age, and entered the celebrated nurse¬ 
ries of Malcolm, of Kensington, and after 
studying his profession there for some time, 
he returned to Edinburgh, and in 1819 com¬ 
menced business at Chester. He was the in¬ 
timate friend of Mr. Loudon, and of Thomas 
Andrew Knight, Esq., and being a man of 
great information on all branches of the nur¬ 
sery business, he was frequently consulted by 
them. In the cultivation of hardy trees and 
shrubs and herbaceous plants he was enthu¬ 
siastic, and the collections of these which he 
had brought together at Chester are amongst 
the most extensive in the country. All bear 
testimony to his genial, kindly disposition; 
and the respect in which he was held was 
evidenced by the large number of his friends 
and fellow townsmen who attended him to 
his last resting-place, in Chester Cemetery, on 
the 8th. His two sons, Mr. F. A. Dickson 
and Mr. Thomas Dickson, succeed him in the 
business. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 
STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSES. 
Orchids .—As the successful blooming of 
these fine plants depends on the strength and 
vigour of the shoots, do not allow anything to 
check their progress. A moist atmosphere, 
without, however, encouraging water to lodge 
about their roots, and a nicely regulated tem¬ 
perature, will be the principal points to at¬ 
tend to. 
GREENHOUSE. 
_ • 
Camellias .—The blooming season is now 
nearly over, and some cultivators prefer shift¬ 
ing them into fresh pots at this season; if 
such are requisite, dry turfy loam and peat, 
two-thirds of the former to one of the latter, 
will be a safe compost. Pay particular atten¬ 
tion to well draining the pots ; use no manure 
in the soil, but depend on it in a liquid form 
for what extra help they may require. Give 
them a little extra heat, by early closing the 
house, now that they are making their wood, 
and use the syringe freely. Cinerarias .—To 
prolong the beauty of the bloom, attention 
must be paid to watering and shading. In 
selecting seedlings, compare them with the 
best out in the same class. To procure good 
seed, select a few of the finest-shaped kinds, 
of good habit, and place them in a frame or 
house by themselves, and keep the bees from 
them. The work of fertilisation should be 
done by hand, using a camel’s-hair pencil. 
Epacris. —Early-blooming kinds should be cut 
in and placed in a close frame, or moderately 
warm house, to encourage them to break, 
syringing overhead to assist them; when 
started a couple of inches, repot such as re¬ 
quire it; turfy peat and sand, with plenty of 
drainage, will grow them in perfection. Pelar¬ 
goniums .—These will be making great progress 
this month, and, to prevent their becoming 
drawn, should have plenty of room. Continue 
tying the branches as they increase in size, 
and keep the foliage clean. Green fly must 
be kept under ; fumigate effectually, just be¬ 
fore the plants are coming into bloom, two 
nights in succession. Watering must be well 
attended to this month ; the pots being full of 
roots, the soil dries very fast during bright 
weather. Shade as little as possible until the 
plants are coming into bloom; a little shading, 
however, on a bright day following dull 
weather, would be beneficial. 
CONSERVATORY. 
As solar heat and light increase, the house 
may be closed rather earlier in the afternoon, 
to dispense with fire ; give air, however, be¬ 
times in the morning, and let the necessary 
waterings and cleaning be done as early as 
possible. As the permanent plants have now 
commenced growth, let them stand clear, that 
the young shoots may obtain their full share 
of light. Let the climbing plants be trained 
occasionally, avoiding, however, anything like 
a formal arrangement. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Take every possible means to harden off 
the stock; the propagation of such things as 
Verbenas, and other soft-growing plants, may 
yet be prosecuted. Stocks and other annuals 
required early should be forwarded in cold 
frames, and others sown for succession. 
FORCING. 
Vines. —Look at last, month’s directions; 
bring on succession vineries gently. Vines in 
pots, and those in inside borders, keep moist 
by occasional waterings, using liquid manure 
freely during active growth. Peaches , disbud 
from time to time; tie in shoots; syringe fre¬ 
quently ; close rather early in the day to obtain 
additional heat and save fires; give air liber¬ 
ally in the forenoon; avoid draughts. Keep 
the succession-house rather dry till the fruit 
has set; afterwards syringe, &c., as directed 
last month. Strawberries getting ripe, allow 
more air to colour and flavour them. Bring on 
successions ; water with liquid manure while 
swelling. Pines out of bloom, keep damp at root 
and top; maintain a steady bottom heat; the 
temperature of the house should be by night 
65°, by day 75°. Successions recently potted, 
keep close till growth commences, after which 
give more air; do not water till they begin to 
make fresh roots. Melons, stop and train; keep 
