26 



EAPID CULTURE OF CYCLAMEN PEESICUM. 



O raise a stock of full-sized bulbs in six months is very easy for those 

 whohaveconvenience to do it. Prepare a number of shallow boxes, three 

 inches deep, with a fe:y drainage boles if the boxes are new; no drainage 

 boles if old and slightly cracked boxes are used. Seed-pans willdo, but they 

 are heavy to lift about, andbeinground,takeup moreroom than boxes. A 

 convenient size for the boxes is sixteen inches square. They can be packed close 

 together, and an immense number of plants can be accommodated in a small space. 

 Over the drainage holes place hollow crocks ; lay down half an inch of peat lumps, 

 toui^h and fibry. Fill up to the brim with a mixture of sand, leaf-mould, and fibry 

 peat, or very turfy yellow loam, equal parts. In January sow the seeds singly, three 

 inches apart everyway. Place the boxes on a tank or bark bed, in a moist tempera- 

 ture of GO'. As soon as the seedlings show, look over the boxes, and wherever a seed 

 has missed insert another. Keep them growing steadily till March ; then increase 

 the heat to 70', with plenty of atmospheric moisture and regular waterings. By the 

 end of May they will have formed large sound thrifty bulbs. Remove them from the 

 bed and place them under the stages of the bouse, or if there is rpcm to spare -on a 

 table in the greenhouse, whence, after a fortnight, they may be removed to a frame 

 or pit. Dry them off gx-adually and ripen, and in six months from the date of sowing 

 they will be hne bulbs to flower at the next potting. 



HOW TO USE THE BAEOMETEE. 



As a help to those who are not yet versed in the science of weatber, we append a few 

 short rules that may serve as guides, however imperfect, until they are more 

 advanced in this interesting and useful study. 



A RISING BAROMETER. 



A " rapid " rise indicates unsettled weather. 



A "gradual" rise indicates settled weather. 



A "rise" with dry air and cold increasing in summer indicates wind from 

 northward ; and if rain has fallen, better weather is to be expected. 



A "rise" with moist air and a low temperature indicates wind and rain from 

 northward, 



A "rise " with southerly wind indicates fine weather. 



A STEADY BAROMETER. 



"With dry air and a seasonable temperature, indicates a continuance of very fine 

 weather. 



A EALLIXG BAROMETER. 



A " rapid " fall indicates stormy weather. 



A " rapid " fall with westerly wind indicates stormy weather from northward. 



A '* fall " with a northerly wind indicates storm, with rain and hail in summer, 

 aud snow in winter. 



A " fall" with increased moisture in the air and the heat increasing indicates 

 ■wind and rain from southward. 



A "fall" with dry air and cold increasing in winter indicates snow. 



A " fall " after very calm and warm weather indicates rain with squ\lly 

 weather. — Negretti and Zambra. 



Vakiegated leaved plaxts. — C. C. Stcdson.—Mr. Lowe's work on " Beau- 

 tiful Leaved Plants" may be obtained of Messrs. Groombridge and Sons. Messrs. 

 Bell and Daldy have commenced the publication of a new illustrated work on the 

 subject, the description in which will be written by Mr. Hibberd. It will be pub- 

 lished in monthly parts at Is. each. 



