252 THE FLORIST. 



house, or in a close pit, and protect them from currents of cold air. 

 You will soon find them disposed to grow vigorously ; give them then 

 more air, and, in order to induce them to become bushy, stop such 

 shoots as are inclined to outstrip their neighbours. By the latter 

 end, of May you will probably find that roots are plentiful on the 

 outside of the ball ; and remember that it is a bad practice to allow 

 the roots of any thing to become matted before shifting ; therefore, 

 as soon as you discover that the plants have filled the soil with roots, 

 shift them. 



If tolerably well treated, they will fill 12-inch pots during the 

 season, or they will flower very well in 9 -inch pots ; therefore re- 

 gulate the shift by the size of plant you want ; but recollect that 

 the length of time during which they will continue in bloom greatly 

 depends upon their having plenty of pot-room. In shifting, drain 

 well, and use rough soil; and return the plants to their former 

 situation for ten days, in order to prevent the soil from becoming 

 drenched by heavy rains, and to encourage the plants to push fresh 

 roots. Afterwards, remove them to a warm place out of doors, but 

 sheltered from the morning sun ; here they may remain until the 

 time for housing the greenhouse plants takes place, merely requiring 

 to be attended to with water, and to have any rambling shoot which 

 may appear pinched back. 



They will now be in a fit state for flowering, and may be re- 

 moved to the greenhouse, or sitting-room window ; where they will 

 continue to display their little clusters of sweet- smelling pea- blos- 

 soms all the winter. They require plenty of water at the roots, but 

 dislike a damp atmosphere. When you are tired of them, slightly 

 prune them in, and place them in a cool situation, supplying them 

 rather sparingly with water for a time. When they begin to shew a 

 disposition to grow, water more liberally, and they will be the better 

 for a shift into a larger-sized pot ; but if that is inconvenient, feed them 

 with manure water. When all danger of frost is over, remove them 

 to their last year's station out of doors. You will find that young 

 plants bloom more abundantly and remain longer in flower than old 

 ones ; hence it will be advisable to strike a few cuttings every third 

 season. They root freely if placed under a glass, and kept in a 

 rather cool place. Amateur. 



ROYAL SOUTH-LONDON FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The fourth exhibition of the season was held in the Surrey Zoologi- 

 cal Gardens on the 25th of July. The day was somewhat unfavour- 

 able, and consequently there was a comparatively thin attendance. 

 The exhibition itself was a very good one. The first tent we entered 

 was filled with stove and greenhouse plants from Messrs. Bruce, Cole, 

 Hamp, Pamplin, and Pawley, and we are glad to record that they 

 were all in capital condition for the season of the year. On one 

 side of this tent were arranged the Carnations and Picotees, the show 



