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A Monthly Journal of Floriculture and Horan tare for. Professional, Practical, and Penn Catencee? 
VOL. ‘IIL $xe N 0, B} 1 (i Aner ae the G. P, 0. “Adelaide, fc for ) 
transmission by REE as anew pbs Pek 
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. The Flower Coutden 
bal epee Fg Fos me 
OPERATIONS FOR DECEMBER. 
By J. Cronin, 
Many herbaceous, shrubby, and bulbous 
plants that bloom during the autumn 
months may be planted in Noyember and 
December, including Dahlias, Salvias, Del- 
phiniums, Gladioli, &e. 
If Chrysanthemums have ~ut yet been. 
planted into their flowering,quarters such 
planting should be done at once. Plants 
from pots may be put out, cloudy or 
showery days being most suitable -vr the 
purpose. If the soil has been well worked 
and manured good results may be reason- 
ably expected. When specially fine blooms 
are desired, from three to six shoots should 
he selected after the plants break into 
lateral growth, each shoot being staked, 
and all other growths renioved as they 
appear. 
Dahlias may be planted as ‘ave ag mid- 
January when young struck pants grown 
in pots are procurable. The best: results 
are usually obtained in. the metropolitan 
district from planting about new year. In 
later districts, and where frosts are likely 
to occur during April, they shouid be 
planted a fortnight earlier. Dry tubers 
should be planted two or three weeks ear- 
lier than rooted plants from pots. 
The Dahlia needs a free soil, liberally 
manured, the addition, of charcoal, wosd 
ashes, or rough litter being advisable if the 
soil is of a heavy close nature. The Cactus 
type is greatly to be preferred to the old 
show yarieties, and is becoming 
popular each season, owing to the many 
improved varieties that are being annually 
distributed. 
Of Salvias, Bonfire is probably the best 
variety for mixed groups or borders, or, for 
planting in masses, being of dwarf habit 
more — 
and Aare in summer and autumm 
abundance of bright scarlet flowers. Beth- 
elii, the flowers of which are rosy-pinlk,. 
tipped with white, growing to a height off 
4 ft., is another kind worthy of generaE. 
cultivation in mixed borders. Salvia. pas 
tens, a dwarf growing herbaceous kind, ig: 
one of the finest blue flowering! plants hg 
eixstence. 
Many of the recent hybrids of Gladioly 
are a decided improvement on the oldex 
-garden varieties, and are probably the 
finest summer flowering bulbous plants. 
Childsii, Lemoinei, and the Butterfly sec 
tions are particularly fine. Aj batch of bulbs. 
may be planted now for autumn, blooming. 
The soil for Gladiolus should be deeply 
worked and manured, well decayed stable 
manure being the best. 
Delphinium formosum and its hybrids: 
are beautiful herbaceous plants producing: 
long spikes of flowers of various shades of 
blue. They bloom freely during summer 
_and autumn, requiring fairly rich soil, amd 
water during dry weather. They should 
be planted at once. 
Various bedding plants, such as Altex~ 
nanthera, Iresine, shrubby Begonias, &e:, 
should also be planted as soon as possible. 
Lotus peliorhynchus, a glaucous leavedl 
trailing shrub, producing scarlet flowers, 
pea shaped, is a specially desirable plant 
for rock work or hanging baskets, &c. Tk. 
is quite hardy, and rapid in growth, bloom-— 
ing profusely in early spring. 
Where Roses are attacked by aphis the 
plants should be throughly sprayed with 2. 
tobacco wash. ““Nikoteen” is the® best of 
the many preparations offered for sale 
against insects of this class. 
If mildew appears the plants should be 
thoroughly sprinkled with flowers of suk- 
phur, early morning being the proper time 
for such application. - : 
Daffodils and other spring flowering 
bulbs that require to be lifted, should be 
so treated as soon as the tops have die& 
off. 
