DECEMI5RR. 2G7 



moss, water lightly, and place them in a damp pit. Tlie moss must 

 be sprinkled with water as often as it may be necessary to keep tlie 

 soil in a damp state; but care must be taken to have it removed as 

 soon as the plants begin to make their appearance, otherwise they 

 will be greatly injured, if not spoiled. As soon as the i)lants are up, 

 they should be watered with care ; and to prevent dainj), they must 

 be placed near the glass, where they will receive abundance of air, 

 but they should be guarded against cold currents. As soon as they 

 are sufficiently large to handle, which will be about the beginning or 

 middle of September, pot them singly in small thumb-pots, using 

 light sandy soil — half peat and half loam will answer perfectly. 

 After potting return them to the pit, and keep them close until they 

 become established ; they may then be removed to the front of the 

 greenhouse, or to any cool place near the glass. They will require 

 no further attention during the winter except a moderate supply of 

 water. 



About the beginning of March, or as early as convenient, remove 

 them to a pit where they can be kept close, and receive a little 

 warmth, to encourage them to grow freely. As soon as it may ap- 

 pear necessary, shift them into 5-inch pots, using the same quality 

 of soil as before ; and observe that, in potting, they require to be 

 placed a little deeper in the soil each time ; for unless this is done, 

 they have a tendency to become top-heavy, and will tumble about 

 upon the surface of the pot ; and as they emit roots all up the stem, 

 they are benefited by having the latter inserted deeper in the soil. 

 As the sun becomes powerful, it may be advisable to shade them 

 slightly during a few hours on very bright days ; but this will 

 hardly be necessary before May ; and by this time they ought to 

 be ready to receive a second shift : use 7-inch pots, and add a portion 

 of thoroughly decomposed cow-dung, say a third, to the compost. 

 This should be well broken up and rubbed through the hands with 

 the sand before being added to the soil, as when done in this way it 

 is less liable to be in lumps, and becomes more intimately mixed 

 with the rest of the materials. A cool damp pit, partially shaded 

 from the forenoon's sun, will be the most suitable place to summer 

 them in. Here they should be liberally supplied with water, and 

 should be placed upon something which will prevent worms from 

 finding their way into the pots : nothing answers this purpose better 

 than coal-ashes. I need hardly state that the flower- stems must 

 be pinched out as they make their appearance. Towards the middle 

 of July, or beginning of August, they should receive their final 

 shift, and this may be into 10 or 12-inch pots, according to the 

 taste of the grower. I pot a portion of my plants, such as I intend 

 for early flowering, in 10-inch, and the remainder in 12-inch pots. 

 The soil should be much the same as that recommended for last 

 shift, only a larger proportion of dung may be used witii advantage. 

 Great care must be observed in order to secure thorough drainage, 

 as the plant requires a large supply of water during its long season 

 of bloom, and unless the drainage is efficient, the soil will become 

 sjur, and the plants will be all but destroyed. The soil, too, should 



