168 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



place the pans in a sufficient depth of water to reach to within an 

 inch of the rim, and let them remain a sufficient time to get 

 thoroughly moistened ; this is the way for dealing with all kinds of 

 small seeds that will not vegetate kindly under too deep a covering, 

 for when watered with a watering-pot, the water washes the soil into 

 heaps, and covers one part with too much soil, and the remainiug part 

 is left bare — two very unfavourable conditions for germination. 



When the young plants begin to make their appearance above 

 the soil, admit air, increasing the amount in proportion to their 

 progress and strength. The plants should be potted oif into three- 

 inch pots when they get a couple of rough leaves about the size of a 

 shilling, and be returned to the cold frame and kept close for a few 

 days until they get established in their new quarters, when air must 

 be admitted plentifully. Eemove the lights in the evening, and let 

 them remain oif all night, to expose the plants to the falling dew, 

 and replace them in the morning after giving them a moderate 

 sprinkle of water overhead. These plants require a cool, moist atmo- 

 sphere, with an abundance of air, for when the air is kejDt stagnant 

 the foliage gets infested with mildew^, and when there is an insuffi- 

 ciency of atmospheric moisture they soon become a prey to green-fly, 

 red-spider, and thrip. Eepot into five-inch pots as soon as the roots 

 have filled the first pots, and proceed thus until they are in eight- 

 inch pots, which will be large enough to flower them in for all 

 ordinary purposes. With the approach of frost the lights must 

 remain on during the night, with plenty of ventilation through the 

 day ; towards the end of October they will do best upon the green- 

 house stage and near the glass, w^here they will get plenty of air but 

 not exposed to cold draughts, for calceolarias will not stand rough 

 treatment with impunity. In the spring pinch out the main flower- 

 stalk, to encourage the production of numerous side-shoots, which 

 will make fine large heads of bloom if neatly staked to prevent 

 their getting broken about. 



To save repetition, I will observe that the soil in which the 

 calceolaria has always grown to my satisfaction, has been composed 

 of two parts mellow loam, such as that obtained from the surface of 

 pasture land, say six inches deep, and which is full of the roots and 

 fibres of the grasses growing in it, and one part each of cow-dung 

 and leaf-mould, both rotted to a powder, and not quite one part sharp 

 silver sand. The whole mass is to be chopped up and the con- 

 stituents thoroughly incorporated together. Pot the plants firm, 

 and place a good drainage in the bottom of the pots at each 

 potting. 



These plants are especially impatient of stagnant moistui-e at 

 the roots, and water must be applied cautiously at all seasons, for 

 they must not get dry enough to flag, or be kept too wet. Weak 

 manure-water twice a- week, after the plants begin to grow vigorously 

 in the spring, will assist the production of an abundance of fine 

 large flowers and luxuriant healthy foliage in a wonderful manner. 

 Always give the plants sufficient water to soak the balls thoroughly, 

 and then leave them alone until they require another application, for 

 nothing acts so injuriously upon them as constant dribblmgs of water 



