THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 233 



panied bj plenty of moisture. Supposing the cuttings to be placed on 

 a shelf in the greenhouse, fully exposed to the sun, a mat might be 

 thrown over the glass to break the full force of its rays, and prevent 

 them from being burnt up before they have formed roots. The 

 branches can also be cut up into lengths and rooted, if a number of 

 plants are wanted, and there are only a few growing points to be 

 had, but the latter are the best, if they are obtainable. After they 

 are rooted, they must be potted off into small pots, in which they 

 must remain through the winter. In the spring shift into pots two 

 sizes larger, and give them a little encouragement for a few weeks by 

 placing them in a growing temperature, about ten degrees higher 

 than that of the cold greenhouse, directly the plants begin to make 

 fresh roots into the new soil, nip the points off, and then when these 

 pots are full of roots, and the pJauts require a second shift, they can 

 be either potted on singly or into larger pots, or about three plants 

 potted in one large one. I prefer the latter method, for a large plant 

 can be had quicker, and with less trouble, than by growing them on 

 singly. The plants should now have all the light and air possible, 

 for upon the maturity of the wood depends, in a great measure, the 

 quantity of bloom the following summer. The drainage of the pots 

 should be perfect, and water applied rather liberally when the plants 

 are growing freely, but sparingly during the time they are at rest 

 through the winter; just sufficient to keep the foliage from shrivel- 

 ling. From the first the side-shoots must be neatly tied out, to keep 

 them in their places, and prevent their snapping off, which they are 

 very liable to when shifting the plant about. Immediately the 

 beauty of the flowers is gone, cut the plants down in a somewhat 

 similar manner to the way pelargoniums are cut back after flowering. 

 Give the plants a little extra warmth to induce them to break 

 quickly, and when the young shoots are about an inch in length, 

 take the plants out of the pots, remove a portion of the old soil, and 

 repot in a clean pot, the same size as that from which it was taken. 

 No exact rule can be laid down as to how low each shoot is to be 

 cut down, but they should be cut back to where the wood is firm, 

 and a certain uniformity preserved, so when the young growths pro- 

 gress and come into flow^er, the plant is a nice shape, which is im- 

 practicable if the old wood is pruned irregularly. A close soil for 

 growing these plants in must be avoided, it should consist of 

 fibrous loam, mixed wdth a good proportion of leaf-mould and sand, 

 and a liberal sprinkling of broken crocks. With the selection of half- 

 a-dozen first-rate kinds, I shall conclude, earnestly advising my 

 readers to deal justly by these plants, and they will have no more 

 necessity to raise the cry of there being nothing to decorate the 

 conservatory with through July. The following are about the best 

 — at all events they are good and distinct, and I can recommend 

 them with the greatest degree of confidence : — K. JBoieldietc, bright 

 carmine ; K. coccinea sioperba, fine deep scarlet ; K. Madame Bcshordes 

 Velmorej fine rose ; K. Otto Deines^ rich velvety scarlet ; K. Sultan 

 Achmet^ fine dark red. tt^ 



