1 Jswn., 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. vas 
Horticultural Notes. 
By PHILIP MAC MAHON, 
Curator, Botanic Gardens, Brisbane. 
Tur average mean shade temperature for January at Brisbane is 76 degrees, 
and the average mean rainfall is 710 inches. The weather during the month is 
eealy muggy, the air being very moist, and the growth of plants consequently 
api 
During the early part of the month, should we be favoured with rain, it is 
® good time to plant all tropical plants, and the first sowing of seeds of annuals 
or the flower garden will require to bemade. The ease with which a person 
can provide a stock of annuals sufficient to make any garden gay during the 
Autumn and winter months is not generally recognised. Small boxes or pans—a 
ie eat ate one for each variety of seeds—should be prepared ; and a compost, into 
Which decayed leaves largely enter, should be got ready. The compost should 
be of such a consistency that, when taken in the hand and squeezed, it will fall 
asunder at the slightest touch. In sowing annuals, let them be sown thinly, so 
that a little delay in pricking off may not do them so much harm as if sown 
ickly in the first instance. The surface of the soil should never be watered so 
heavily as to wash it about ; and when the young seedlings are large enough to 
handle, they should be lifted one by one and, with the aid of a label or knife, 
lanted into beds or boxes of very light soil, still with a goodly proportion of 
ae soil. Even if they seem thin enough in the seed-boxes, it is better to prick 
em off in this way. You must look out for insects. The marauding slug 
early loves the succulent young annual, and will go a long distance (for a slug) 
0 get it. A quantity of soot or ashes thrown in his path has a most discouraging 
effect, and makes him think the game hardly worth the candle. 
All kinds of shrubby plants may be propagated by cuttings, these being 
chosen in the majority of cases with a heel of old wood. That class of 
elargonium commonly called “ geraniums’ may also be readily propagated in 
1s way. These plants do remarkably well in Queensland, an yield some 
Splendic flowers. Of course you can propagate coleus, crotons, and all kinds 
of tropical foliage plants this month very readily. By stretching a piece of thin 
calico on a frame of lath, it is possible to make a capital propagating frame 
Which will serve to keep the air moist around your cuttings and to prevent 
Currents of air, which by carrying off the moisture from the cuttings often prove 
atal. Weeds, too, will not grow so readily where there is a slight shade kept 
y this means. 
‘a During this month you will have to pay particular attention to all pot 
Pe nts. There is so much growth that plants grown under the artificial conditions 
fe lant-houses will, if they are allowed to become dry, easily sustain permanent 
ee When a pot plant becomes thoroughly dry, it is often impossible to 
re er it by means of the ordinary watering-can, as the water runs off through the 
oe earth on the outside, and, although the plant appears to be thoroughly well 
mented it is quite dry in the middle of the ball of earth, which surrounds its 
an The remedy is to stand the pot in a bucket or basin of water until air- 
les cease to be given off. 
wi There is a tendency at this season, both indoors and out, to over-water. As 
ate Pointed out last month, this requires to be carefully guarded against. A. 
He aE ukase against the undue use of the garden hose in suburban gardens 
uld do as much as anything to enhance the beauty of their floral occupants. 
