240 . THE FLORIST. 



object should, be, first, to obtain a good foundation, by carefully 

 stopping and tying out the branches. When this is properly done, the 

 greatest art of plant-growing is complete. On the other hand, if these 

 points are neglected when the plants are young, no after care will 

 compensate for the omission. 



The Pleroma may be propagated either by means of seeds or 

 cuttings ; if the latter, a little practice is requisite to be able to insert 

 them at a proper time. They will not root readily if the wood is 

 allowed to be ( me too ripe ; and on the other hand, if too young, 

 there will be the danger of damping. Those who have been accus- 

 tomed to propagate the Azalea will probably find httle difficulty with 

 this plant. 



Supposing we have young plants in February or early in March, 

 they should be placed in a growing temperature — say about from 45° 

 to 55°. A suitable place for this and many other plants intended for 

 specimens, such as Leschenaultias, Eriostemons, IBoronias, &c., is a 

 pit heated with a hot-water pipe, to apply a little heat in cold, damp 

 weather. In such a situation they can he kept near the glass, to enjoy 

 the light and a circulation of air, or shaded from bright sun, as the 

 weather may require. In such a situation they will soon commence 

 growing freely, and should be carefully potted in pots a size or two 

 larger, as the amount of roots may seem to require. It will be better, 

 however, to give a rather small shift until the plants are fairly started 

 into growth ; when such is the case, liberal shifts may be given at 

 intervals of six or eight weeks, giving the final potting for the season 

 in July, as it is better for the pots to be rather full of roots during 

 winter. Stopping the shoots should also be discontinued after the first 

 week in July, and attention paid to having the growth well matured 

 before the dark days of autumn. This done, the Pleroma may be 

 wintered in the greenhouse, if the temperature is not allowed to fall 

 below 40°. It should be placed so as to receive a good amount of 

 light and air, without incurring cold draughts. 



If the plants are required in bloom in the early part of the summer, 

 they should not be repotted in spring ; but for plants to bloom in 

 August and September a good shift should be given in March, and the 

 shoots regularly stopped about a month later. By following the 

 practice of stopping and potting at different periods, this plant may be 

 had in bloom for three or four months together at a time. 



J. Shuter. 



PINKS. 

 The Pink bloom this year has been very fine, — unusually so. Almost 

 every variety produced large well-laced flowers, there being scarcely a 

 failure out of the hundred kinds grown here. The season has, however, 

 been much in their favour, particularly the spring months, for, if it 

 prove an adverse one, the most careful treatment will fail to produce 

 that uniform fine bloom we have just experienced in every part of the 



