40 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
imported from foreign countries, or those saved from stove and 
greenhouse plants grown in this country ; a light soil, exclusion 
from light, a moist calm atmosphere, unfavourable to evapora¬ 
tion, and a moderate but steady degree of heat, are the principal 
conditions required to assist in the germination of seeds. 
Average temperature, 70°. 
Greenhouse. In this department air should be admitted as 
freely as possible, so that no dampness may accumulate. The 
growth of the plants, generally , should not be excited by encou¬ 
raging a close warm artificial atmosphere ; it will be better to 
await the natural return of these favourable conditions. When 
growth commences in any plant, encourage it freely by all pos¬ 
sible justifiable means ; but avoid a high temperature, for it is the 
source of many injurious results. Temperature, 45°. 
Flower-Garden. This should receive attention in the fre¬ 
quent forking up of the beds and borders, whereby the soil will 
become sweetened by exposure to the air : avoid treading or 
trampling on them for an opposite reason. Herbaceous plants 
may be removed and transplanted; such as have grown to a 
large size should be reduced, retaining a portion of the outside 
of the patches only to replant. A few annuals may be sown in 
dry and warm situations ; they may survive, and in that case 
will perhaps produce a few early flowers. Plant Ranunculuses 
by the middle of the month. Beds of Hyacinths, Tulips, Nar- 
ciss, &c., which have been protected with litter, should have 
part of it removed; and when the leaves begin to appear, they 
should be protected by mats or awning during night. Coverings 
of all kinds, as they become unnecessary, should not be suddenly 
removed, but this should be effected in a very gradual and 
cautious manner ; very much depends on this. Roses, flower¬ 
ing shrubs, and trees of all kinds, should be pruned before their 
growth recommences ; all these, too, may now be transplanted 
with success. Box-edgings may be planted ; turf may be laid 
down ; walks both of grass and gravel may be formed. Gravel 
walks and grass lawns should frequently be well rolled, and the 
edgings properly and neatly cut: nothing is worse than a deep- 
cut edge in the margins of walks. Continual cleanliness, at all 
times requisite, is perhaps more than ordinarily so now, when 
Nature begins to renew her smiles. 
T. M. 
