THE PI.ANT WORLD 271 



drained compost, the top portion having been passed through a fine 

 screen, should be placed in a warm, moist house ; the seed needs but a 

 very light covering. Do not allow any of the greenhouse assistants to 

 water these with the hose, but keep the soil nicely moist until the seeds 

 germinate, when they will stand a somewhat stronger light and slightly 

 lower temperature. Plants raised from seed last fall, if properly cared 

 for, should now be in 6 and 7-inch pots, and many of these will need a 

 further shift a little later. I^ike Primulas, Cyclamens want abundant air 

 at all times, and are better exposed to the night dews, putting sash on 

 about 9 o'clock on sunny days. Keep a careful watch for thrip, and if 

 any appears fumigate the plants two successive evenings and continue to 

 fumigate once a week for safety. Nothing more quickly destroys 

 Cyclamens than thrip, unless it be the dreaded mite, which seems to be 

 unconquerable. 



The Poinsettia. — With the advent of cool nights, when the ther- 

 mometer drops to 40 degrees, or even lower, it is not wise to leave these 

 plants outdoors, or even in frames, any longer, for, while no apparent 

 injury may be seen at the time, these chills are sure to be followed by a 

 loss of foliage. The plants will do best in a light, airy house, where a 

 night temperature of about 60 degrees can be maintained on hot, bright 

 days. A syringing twice a day is beneficial, using a fine spray. Any 

 plants requiring potting on should be attended to ere the roots become 

 matted. We find a suitable compost to be one composed of loam, well- 

 rotted cow manure and sand, with a dash of horn or bone dust. While 

 nice bracts can be secured from pots as small as 4 or 5 inches in diameter, 

 6 or 7-inch are preferable if first-class bracts are desired. If extra large 

 bracts are wanted for cut-flower purposes, it is not yet too late to plant a 

 bench ; given a rose-house temperature and careful watering in the early 

 stages of growth, with liberal stimulants later when bracts show, it is 

 possible to get heads 20 to 24 inches in diameter. Some growers keep 

 their plants from year to year, but young plants are generally more satis- 

 factory, particularly as regards foliage. 



Lilium Harrisi, etc. — The earliest potted bulbs now have the pots well 

 filled with roots and growths 2 to 3 inches high. To secure some of these 

 in bloom for Christmas we remove them to a warm, moist, sunny house, 

 where they are kept growing right along. We like to see the buds early 

 in November to be sure of securing them in flower for the holidays. 

 Plants not required for early forcing are better kept in frames for some 

 time yet. There is still plenty of time to pot up batches of Z. longiflortim, 

 or L. Harrisi, for spring or Easter decoration. Bulbs seem to be plump 

 and of fine quality this season, and it is to be hoped that disease will 

 prove less rife. Lilium candidum, the well-known and popular white 

 garden lily, was formerly much grown in pots, but of late years, owing 



