FLORAL OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH.

119

may be desired. Auriculas.-The blooming season of these favourites is now nearly over, and their growth commencing; they should therefore be immediately repotted, so that they may receive the benefit of additional stimulant, and thus more vigorous and much stronger plants will be obtained than if the potting is deferred until autumn. Carnations and Picotees are by this time in their blooming pots, and as they advance in growth attention will be necessary to stick and tie them up neatly. Stir up the surface soil of the pots, and add a dressing of mixed loam and well-decayed dung. Cinerarias.-As these go out of bloom cut down the stems, which will induce an abundance of shoots for increase. Dahlias.-The last week in the month is as early as it is safe to commence planting out. The young plants will be greatly strengthened by repotting them into larger pots, giving all the favourable air possible, in order to have them hardy when turned out. Fuchsias.-Repot and trim all the plants required for specimens; encourage their growth by frequently syringing them over-head, and take care immediately to stop such shoots as are of too redundant growth, so as to preserve the plant uniform. Pansies.-Cuttings put in last month, as directed, may now be planted in a shady bed, for summer blooming. Copious watering in dry weather will be necessary. Such as are grown in pots, for show, require particular attention, and by thinning out the side shoots much finer blooms may be had. In the seed-bed, any promising varieties should have a little dung placed around them, and watered occasionally, to promote their growth. Pelargoniums.-Such as have not been stopped back will now be coming into bloom. Keep them free from the green fly, by fumigating, washing them afterwards. Pinks. As the blooming stems advance, they will require thinning out. Such as are not generally inclined to burst their pods may have all the stems but one removed. The more robust and very double kinds should have two or three stems left, according to the strength of the plant. Read's Jenny Lind and Turner's XX. are the best of the new ones, and will be conspicuous at the coming shows. Ranunculuses.-If dry weather sets in, water must be liberally supplied; apply it between the roots, and not over the foliage, and use rain-water if possible, preferring evening for the operation. Tulips.-The top cloth should at once be got on, to protect from storms of heavy rain and hail, and never let the sun reach the flowers after they show colour, but give all the air possible.

IN THE FORCING FRAME.

Continue to strike cuttings of stove and greenhouse plants, and pot off such as are struck. Plants intended to be flowering specimens for the greenhouse, such as Achimenes, Gloxinias, Gesnerias, &c., should be grown here and brought forward as rapidly as practicable. What are termed greenhouse annuals, as Balsams, Čockscombs, Salpiglossis, Rhodanthe, &c.; Thunbergias, &c., should be got on quickly. A strong stimulating soil, copious waterings, and ample pot room, together with bottom heat, are inseparable necessaries to their successful cultivation.

120

SONGS OF THE FLOWERS.

IN THE GREENHOUSE AND COLD FRAME.

A free ventilation is of importance, and by closing with a humid atmosphere early in the evening, a vigorous growth will be best promoted. Give liberal shifts to such plants as require it, before the roots become matted, much injury is often done by deferring until a general shifting. Camellias, such as have formed their flower-buds, should be placed in a sheltered and shady situation out of doors. Ericas should have the ends of their shoots pinched off, to render them bushy and spreading. Climbing plants should be neatly tied as they advance in growth, and abundance of flowers will be the result. In order to prolong the season of bloom of a favourite flower, much, in many cases, may at this time be done; such as usually bloom during the early part of summer, may be made to flower at an advanced period, by stopping or pruning the growing shoots of a few specimens, thereby causing them to form lateral shoots, and consequently a more prolific, as well as later bloom. Shrubby plants of weak growth, and which naturally make long frail shoots, are much improved by bending down the branches, and fixing them to a wire attached to the rim of the pot, in this manner the nakedness of the plant at its base is hidden, and the check imposed on the ascent of sap, will induce an increased supply of shoots.

SONGS OF THE FLOWERS.

NO. 3.--CHORUS OF SPRING FLOWERS.
BY JOHN DUGGAN, ESQ.

"Some flowers o' the Spring."-Shakspere.

66

Joying to hear the birds' sweet harmony."-Spencer.`
O welcome sisters, once again we hail the bright'ning sky;
Each heart is lightly leaping-joy lives in every eye-
And ev'ry bud, and ev'ry flow'r, and ev'ry bird and bee,
Are blossoming in gladness now; are singing merrily.
See rosy spring is smiling at her lovely children's birth;
And their beamy eyes of beauty glad their foster-mother, earth:
And she kisses her sweet infants, and she dresses them in pride,
And some she rears in garden-bow'rs, and some on mountain side.

Though bright the dreams of glory that through winter lit our sleep,
While our kind and genial mother watched our slumber long and deep.
O brighter are the faintest gleams that o'er our eyelids play,
When morning from the East comes forth and wakens blushing May.

O happy! happy sisters! how beautiful we are !

No chill, ungentle breezes, our loveliness to mar.

Fond bees are humming o'er us; sweet birds, to cheer us, sing;
And all the world doth truly love, and welcome flowers of spring.

UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA

THE

HOYA BELLA-THE BEAUTIFUL HOYA.

HE old well-known Hoya carnosa, with its pendulous corymbs of wax-like flowers, replete with honey, and filling the house it inhabits with its rich but peculiar fragrance, is too well known to need description.

Many newly-discovered species have of late years been introduced, and some have flowered; but with two exceptions none have equalled the old favourite above mentioned.

Our present subject, however, is superior in every point of view; the flowers, for delicacy and beauty, surpass all the kinds yet known. The habit of the plant is not climbing, nor does its general growth at all resemble that of H. carnosa; the branches are slender, numerous, and thickly clothed with small leaves, scarcely so large as those of the broad-leaved Myrtle, and not much unlike them in form.

The flowers are not only beautiful individually, but the corymbs are viewed to great advantage, from the circumstance of so large a proportion of green foliage forming a dense back ground; the petals are of a very pure white, and beautifully frosted; the central corona of fructification is of a rich carmine purple, and forms a very striking and lively contrast to the petals. Altogether it is a plant of first-rate importance in a collection, as the flowers endure in perfection for a long time, and are delightfully fragrant.

Orchidacea.

A graceful little plant. The flowers are borne on a pendant raceme from the apex of the stem; they are from twelve to fourteen in number,

VOL. XVII. No. 30.-N.S.

M