58 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
left till the autumn. New earth should be laid to the roots of 
climbers and other plants standing in the borders of the house. 
Use the knife freely upon all straggling growths; clean the 
leaves of oranges, &c., and repot or topdress and prune them 
as they require it. Pelargoniums will now be growing rapidly, 
constant attention should be paid to stopping the shoots, as this 
induces a shrubby habit and abundant bloom. Watch for the 
appearance of insects, and take measures to destroy them at 
once. Occasionally the leaves of fast growing plants may be 
syringed to free them from dust, &c.; this should always be 
done early in the day that the sun may dry them before 
nightfall. 
Flower Garden. In this department the cultivator will this 
month have his hands full; so much requires doing, and everything 
at the same time. Seed sowing must be strictly attended to, as 
the beauty of the garden depends so much on the forwarding of 
annuals and other plants for turning out; those sown last month 
should be potted and repotted as often as their roots fill the 
space afforded; continue to sow for succession. It is needless 
and also impossible to enumerate every kind singly; but as a 
general rule it may be safely followed that those described as 
hardy may be sown, where they are to remain, any time before 
the middle of April; those called half-hardy may either be sown 
at once on heat for early blowing, or left till the end of the 
month, and then sow them in their intended places; and from 
that time till the end of April may be allowed for successional 
sowings, but tender annuals should all be sown at once and im¬ 
mediately. Proceed with the propagation of Dahlias; as soon 
as the shoots have made three joints, or are about as many 
inches in height, take them off close at the old root, and strike 
them singly in small pots. Seedlings should be potted off when 
they have made two leaves.' Auricula, Picottee, Polyanthus, and 
Pink seed should be sown directly, if not already done; the 
first may be placed on a light shelf in the greenhouse, the other 
will do, if sown in pans and covered with a handglass. The 
mature plants of each of these beautiful flowers require much at- 
