CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY. 
39 
sown seeds that have been kept here through the winter, should 
be repotted, and allowed rather more water, keeping them near 
the glass; the temperature of the house should be about 45 degrees, 
it may rise a little in the day. 
Flower Garden. The first thing to be attended to here is 
preparing dung, or other fermenting materials, for forming hot¬ 
beds on which to raise tender seeds, strike cuttings, &c.; the 
dung should be laid together to heat till it is quite sweet, that is, 
till the first violent heat is over, it will then be more regular, 
gentle, and last longer: as soon as the beds are ready, which 
should be soon after the middle of the month, spread over them 
a coating of light rich earth, and sow seeds of tender and half- 
hardy annuals, for transplanting to the open borders in April 
and May. Seeds of Balsams, Cockscombs, Schyzanthus, Rho- 
danthe, Lisianthus, and other tender annuals of similar habits, 
should be sown in pots, and half plunged in a gentle hotbed. 
Dahlias from which it is desired to propagate largely, may be 
laid upon the surface of a hotbed from which the first rank steam 
has passed; for this purpose, however, a tan-bed in a forcing- 
house is the best. It will not be necessary to begin with the 
general collection till next month. In these beds the propaga¬ 
tion of half-hardy plants should be commenced as soon as cut¬ 
tings can be procured. Ranunculus and Anemonies should be 
planted about the middle of the month. As many persons still 
adhere to the old destructive method of planting them with a 
dibble, we again mention that the best and proper method is to 
remove the entire surface of the bed to the depth of an inch and 
a half, rake it perfectly smooth and level, and then place the 
roots in their respective places, distributing the various colours 
in a judicious manner, and pressing the roots firmly into the 
earth; then return the earth taken out, and finish by roughly 
raking it level, it is best to put a layer of leaves of about three 
or four inches in thickness, as soon as the bed is planted ; this 
protects them from frost, and, becoming decayed by the summer, 
serves them as a mulching to keep the roots moist. By the end 
of the month Roses may be pruned with safety; at the same time 
top-dress Auriculas; if any appear sickly, it is probably owing 
