THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 303 



time they have had their last shift, they should be put out of doors 

 in an open situation, to make a stout growth and form their flower- 

 buds. When their pots are full of roots, water them constantly 

 with Tery weak manure water. It should never be strong, or it will 

 poison them ; it matters not what sort of manure is used, whether 

 guano, or the drainings of the dung-heap, or sheeps' droppings 

 steeped in water, so long as it is such as you know to be suitable 

 for plants, and so far diluted that it is decidedly weak. By this 

 treatment, and the aid of a little occasional tying and training, you 

 ■will have fine plants for winter flowers. 



About the first of October is early enough to house them, as a 

 rule, but if flowers are wanted extra early, they should be housed 

 about the 20th of September. Keep them near the glass in a cool 

 airy house for a fortnight ; then transfer them to a warm greenhouse, 

 and they will begin to bloom in Xovember, and, by judicious ma- 

 nagement of the succession plants, flowers may be had until the end 

 of March. 



Any one desirous of having the flowers all the year round could 

 do so, for a second stopping, and a shift in August of those struck in 

 April, would insure blooms in March and April following, and per- 

 haps even to May ; but I cannot speak positively on this point, for 

 I should not give them house-room after March, as there are so 

 many other things then that would pay me better. 



If the private cultivator has not the courage to throw away the 

 old plants, he may let them remain in their pots, without pruning, 

 and with regular supplies of water, till June, and then plant them 

 out against a wall, and they will flower in September or October. 

 Even then they need not be destroyed ; they may be assisted through 

 the winter with the help of mats, and thus may be kept many years. 

 IBut if fine winter flowers are reqidred^ a fresli hatcJi of plants must 

 he raised every year. 



The following eight varieties are the best in cultivation : — 



Ariadne, orange-yellow ground, crimson flake, fine form. 



Beauty, pure white, pink stripe. 



Garihaldi, purple, very sweet. 



Gloire de Fermillieux, scarlet, dwarf. 



Magna coccinea, crimson clove. 



Perfection, white, with bizarre flakes of purple and crimson, 

 equal to a show carnation. 



Queen of Whites, the best white, and a true clove. 



Souvenir de la Malmaison, rosy flesh, very fragrant. 



Pinks are easier ta manage, and we can employ them to fill up 

 the blanks in the seasons when carnations are not to be had. We 

 must include for our purpose the new hybrid or mule pinks, for they 

 are most accommodating. The plants should be struck in May, 

 and if kept in pots, will be in bloom in pots out of doors from the 

 1st of October, and, if taken in before frost occurs, continue to 

 flower until December. The best way to manage pinks for winter 

 flowers is, first of all, to strike pipings as soon as you can get thern, 

 and if you can do this on a gentle heat all the better ; but they wiU 

 soon strike if shut up close in a frame. Plant them out in well- 



