1869.] GESNERA CULTURE. 235 



starting the first lot, and for this I of course take those that have first 

 gone to rest. Having prepared a suitable compost — that is, one part 

 good turfy loam from the top spit of an old pasture, one-third leaf soil, 

 one-third well-rotted cow-dung, and one-third rough peat, this latter to 

 keep the whole nice and open, so that abundance of water can be 

 given without souring the soil in any way— the next object is to get 

 suitable pots, clean both outside and inside, and well crocked, to 

 insure a free passage for the water. This, especially in the case of 

 Gesneras, is a most essential matter, as they are very impatient of 

 stagnant water or sour soil. The size of the pots must be entirely 

 regulated and determined by the kind of specimens wanted ; mine 

 generally range from 4 to 10 inch pots, in which latter I have had 

 specimens ranging from 2 to 3 feet through, which I found large 

 enough when thickly studded with blooms, as I always get them under 

 the above treatment. The pots being, as I have already directed, 

 well crocked, are now filled with the said soil to about 2| inches of 

 the brim, the roughest of the compost placed in the bottom of the 

 pots. The pots containing the tubers are now brought to the potting 

 bench, the dried ball taken out, carefully broken down, and every 

 tuber cautiously removed. The greatest care must be taken not to 

 injure the tubers in the operation, as they are extremely brittle and 

 liable to injury. The tubers are then placed in the soil from 2 to 3 

 inches apart, the strongest in the centre : and in the case of the small 

 pots one tuber will be found quite sufficient. The pots are then filled 

 up with the compost to within 1 inch of the brim (thus leaving room 

 for water), gently pressed, and plunged in a bottom-heat of about 

 85°, in which quarter they remain until about 4 high, when they 

 are removed to a warm, dry, and light part of the stove near the 

 glass. Until they are well sprung, and the pots getting filled with 

 roots, the greatest care must be taken not to over-water ; but after- 

 wards, when they are growing well, water may with advantage 

 be freely given, liquid manure added at least once a-week, and 

 for this I prefer distilled sheep - dung, with the addition of a 

 little guano. They must not even for once suffer through drought, 

 as they never quite recover the check ; and I have known it to be the 

 cause of premature ripeness, going to rest without blooming at all. 

 Each shoot must have a neat stake, to which it is periodically tied out 

 as they grow. Their leaves are also easily injured by a rude touch, 

 and so must be scrupulously guarded, as any injury done to the foliage 

 of a plant materially affects not only its looks but also its vigour, thus 

 injuring it in a twofold manner. They are thus treated until they 

 begin to bloom, which, with the earlier ones, will likely be the end 

 of October or early in November, when they must be transferred to 



