161 



. CINERARIAS. 



(Plate 114.) 



We this month furnish our readers with a plate of Cinerarias. 

 Within the last few years this flower has become, and most 

 deservedly so, an especial favourite, whether we view it as an 

 ornamental plant for the conservatory, or for exhibition ; and 

 although it may be said to thrive and flower in almost any soil, a 

 little more care and attention are necessary to bring it to a state 

 approaching perfection, and for this care it will repay the cultivator. 

 In the first place it is absolutely necessary that strong cuttings 

 should be selected and inserted in a light sandy compost, and 

 placed in a shady situation, in a cold frame, until rooted, which, 

 under favourable circumstances, will be in a few days. As soon 

 as rooted pot off" into 60-sized pots, in a compost prepared of 

 fibrous loam and leaf-mould, with a good admixture of silver sand. 

 As soon as the roots reach the outside of the pot, which will be in 

 a short time, they should be repotted into larger pots, and kept 

 close for a few days — sprinkling them overhead, and throwing 

 them open for an hour in the morning and evening, will be found 

 very beneficial. As soon as they attain the height of about three 

 inches they should be stopped, which causes them to Ijreak into 

 strong laterals. (Jnce stopping is all that is necessary, as the 

 second o[)eration produces weak growth. When first-rate plants 

 are wanted for exhibition, care will be required to keep them in a 

 healthy and growing condition, to which end they should be shifted 

 every lew weeks until they receive their final potting, which should 

 be about January. Every care should be taken that they do not 

 get pot-bound in the small pots, as that will throw them in a 

 blooming state immediately. The compost we would recommend 

 for larger plants generally, is two parts of good turfy loam, 

 and equal parts of good well-decomposed cow-dung and leaf- 

 mould, with an admixture of silver or river sand. As the plants 

 grow take care to thin out all the superfluous leaves and all 

 small shoots, so as to admit air freely and prevent mildew, 

 which is a great pest among Cinerarias, and which can only be 

 removed by applying sulphur to the parts aff'ected. Fumigating 

 is highly necessary, to prevent the green-fly. As the plants grow 

 they should be pegged down or tied out, so as to keep them as 

 open as possible. It is indispensable that they should be kept as 

 near the glass as possible, which is the only way to insure dwarf 

 and compact plants. 



As seedlings make fine ornamental plants, it is necessary to select 

 a few examples of the most esteemed kinds, bearing in mind 

 that those chosen should be of the best possible form, clear colours 



NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVI. M 



