FLORICULTURAL HINTS, 
153 
to require some moderation applied to their zeal. The thinning 
of the pods must be finished at once ; slender-growing sorts should 
not be allowed to carry more than a single bloom, while others 
that are stronger may be left with two or three, and care should 
be taken that they are placed some distance apart on the stem ; 
as they are about to open, the pods should be tied round with 
strips of soft bast, and the points of the calyx opened equally on 
all sides, that the petals may have a fair chance of opening in a 
proper manner; the expanded flowers should have their petals 
arranged on a card, and, by means of a piece of wire, each one 
may be fixed firmly in its place at a distance of a few inches from 
the stick by which it is supported : protection from the rain and 
strong sunlight must also be provided, either by means of the 
usual awning or pasteboard caps; if the former is used, some 
care must be taken in the admission of air, that the plants may 
have sufficient to prevent their becoming drawn. 
Tulips. The bulbs must be looked over and turned, that they 
may be thoroughly dried before they are put away. Keep them 
in the shade till just the finishing off, when a day in the bright 
sunshine will complete them thoroughly, and the dirt and loose 
skins may be removed, the bulbs put in their places, and put 
away till the planting time. 
Pinks. Proceed at once with the propagation of these flowers ; 
take only the strong shoots, if you desire to have fine flowers 
next season, the laterals are necessarily weak, and will remain so 
throughout, therefore reject them so long as you can obtain suffi¬ 
cient pipings of the first growth to form your required stock. 
Station the hand-glasses, in which the cuttings are to be struck, 
in the full sun, and shade when necessary ; nearly a fortnight will 
thus be saved over those which are struck in a shaded place. 
Pansies. Continue to propagate for the autumn blooming, se¬ 
lecting for the cuttings only the small ground shoots, as those 
higher up the stems, though stronger in appearance, will be 
found hollow ; an easy, useful shade for these flowers is made with 
a piece of wood about a foot square, which is supported in an 
oblique position by a stick stuck in it at a sharp angle. 
Florista. 
