e to receive flower
roots in the spring, and give them the advantage of a fallow, by
throwing up the ground in a ridge. Scatter over it a very little rotten
dung from a melon bed, and afterwards turn it twice during the winter.
Examine the flowering shrubs, and prune them. Cut away all the dead
wood, shorten luxuriant branches, and if any cross each other, take away
one. Leave them so that the air may have a free passage between them.
Sift a quarter of an inch of good fresh mould over the roots of
perennial flowers, whose stalks have been cut down, and then rake over
the borders. This will give the whole an air of culture and good
management, which is always pleasing.

FLOWER POTS. As flowers and plants should enjoy a free circulation of
air to make them grow well, sitting rooms are not very well adapted to
the purpose, unless they could be frequently ventilated by opening the
doors and windows. In every severe frost or damp weather, moderate fires
should be made in the rooms where the plants are placed, and the
shutters closed at night. Placing saucers under the pots, and pouring
water continually into them, is highly improper: it should be poured on
the mould, that it may filter through it, and thereby refresh the fibres
of the plant. Many kinds of annuals, sown in March and the beginning of
April, may be transplanted into pots about the end of May, and should be
frequently watered till they have taken root. If transplanted in the
summer season, the evening is the proper time, and care must be taken
not to break the fibres of the root. When the plants are attacked by any
kind of crawling insects, the evil may be prevented by keeping the
saucers full of water, so as to form a river round the pot, and rubbing
some oil round the side. Oil is fatal to most kinds of insects, and but
few of them can endure it.

FLOWER SEEDS. When the seeds begin to ripen they should be supported
with sticks, to prevent their being scattered by the wind; and in wet
weather they should be removed to a dry place, and rubbed out when
convenient. August is in general the proper time for gathering flower
seeds, but many kinds will ripen much sooner. To ascertain whether the
seed be fully ripe, put a little of it into water: if it be come to
maturity, it will sink to the bottom, and if not it will swim upon the
surface. To preserve them for vegetation, it is only necessary to wrap
the seed up in cartridge paper, pasted down and varnished over