120 THE FLORIST. 



would ask, What other description of bedding-plant would look even 

 well from May to November, if ten beds were planted together, con- 

 taining only ten varieties ? 



For growing in pots trained on wire trellises, about fifteen inches 

 in diameter, I know of no variety that I have tried that will not an- 

 swer if properly attended to ; but, as a general rule, I find that the 

 most robust and the weakest in their habits are the most trouble- 

 some. Madam Buenzod I take to be one of the best in every respect 

 for this purpose, but I have not found it of any other use whatever. 

 Before speaking of my mode of growing, I would just observe that 

 many varieties would no doubt answer admirably planted in single 

 plants in the border. Gloire de Paris will do for a beginning. 



If a cultivator has not healthy free-growing plants, no satisfactory 

 result can be obtained ; therefore I would recommend that stock be 

 only taken from plants in that condition. 



In the first week in September I take my cuttings (which should 

 not be shewing bloom), and strike them at the third joint (that is, 

 leaving two expanded leaves and the crown out of the soil) ; having 

 placed them to the number of about twelve round a 48-sized pot, 

 using a compost of loam, leaf-mould, and sand in about equal parts. 

 During the winter, I keep them close to the glass in a greenhouse, 

 merely guarding them from severe frost, never watering until they 

 are almost flagging for the want of it. In the beginning of February 

 I gradually supply them with warmth and moisture, and when fairly 

 started into growth, I reduce the number of plants in each pot to 

 about six (cutting them off close to the soil), and pinch the tops off 

 those left. I then find that in about five weeks from first supplying 

 warmth and moisture, I have stout free-growing cuttings, which I 

 strike under small hand-glasses in a bed erected over the flue (the 

 warmth being confined underneath to throw it into the bed), the house 

 being about 65° of heat. I find my cuttings in a week's time fit to 

 pot off into thumb-pots, which 1 place into a slight hot-bed, and pot 

 on into 60's, taking the tops ofi^ from time to time for cuttings, as 

 well as to induce a bushy habit. When well established, I remove 

 them into cold frames, being careful at first of cold winds or frost. 

 It is from the plants in 60's, before turning out into cold-frames, 

 that I make my selection for cultivating in pots. Of those I intend 

 growing to be trained on wire trellises, I place three plants in a 

 24 or four in a 12 pot, being careful that all the plants are in the 

 same stage of growth, as on this much depends ; and these ought to 

 have been stopped about ten days before their final potting, which 

 ought to be about twelve weeks, and the final stop between seven 

 and eight weeks prior to the time required that they should be in 

 bloom, care being taken at this period of stopping also that all the 

 laterals shewing have pushed equally, otherwise the bloom will not 

 be in at one and the same time. When stopped for the last time, 

 the trellis ought to be put on, letting it be four inches at the back 

 and two inches in front from the rim of the pot, and the shoots 

 arranged equally over it, taking care that the flower- shoots, when 

 the buds appear, are arranged equally, and also that, by regulating 



