THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. II3 



CULTIVATION OF COCKSCOMBS. 



BY THOJIAS TEUSSLEE, EDMONTON, N. 



HE cultivation of cockscombs sufficiently good for the 

 embellishment of the conservatory during the autumn, 

 is in reality very simple, and all the details can be 

 described in a very few words. To grow them for 

 exhibition is quite another matter, for a more elaborate 

 system is required for the production of large specimens than ia, 

 necessary when the plants are intended simply for home decoration. 

 Seed saved from a good strain is a sine q^ua non, for the most 

 skilful cultivator will fail in producing good combs if the seed is 

 obtained from an inferior strain. "When the seed is procured, sow 

 in a shallow pan, or in a flower-pot, and place in a cucumber 

 frame, or wherever it can have the assistance of a brisk heat, for it 

 does not germinate readily in a low temperature. The soil must 

 be kept in a nice moist condition, and the plants potted off sepa- 

 rately into three-inch pots when between one and two inches in 

 height. Replace them in the pit, and stand the pots close tof^ether 

 and allow them to remain until the combs can be distinctly seen. 

 At this stage shift them into six-inch pots, and place them where 

 they can be kept rather close, and at the same time be near the 

 glass. It will be an advantage to them if the pots are placed 

 upon a mild hotbed, such as a bed of leaves, or refuse hops, but 

 it is not needful to prepare it specially for them. The compost 

 in which they succeed most satisfactorily is prepared by well in- 

 corporating together three parts of mellow tnvty loam and one part 

 each of leaf-mould, and a sprinkle of silver-sand. 



When newly-potted- off, they will require an occasional sprinkle 

 overhead, but when well established they should be syringed once a 

 day if the weather is moderately bright, and this is best done in the 

 afternoon, when the frame is closed. In hot summer weather they 

 may be syringed lightly morning and evening. They must not be 

 saturated with water, but moderate sjringings will be found most 

 beneficial in keeping the red spider away from the foliao-e to 

 which this pest is decidedly partuil. The soil also must be main- 

 tained in a moderately moist condition, and as soon as the six-inch 

 pots in which they are to remain are well filled with roots, liquid 

 manure may be appHed twice a-week until the combs are fully 

 developed. The most essential point is not to keep them in the 

 small pots until the combs can be seen, and to have them close to 

 the glass for _ the purpose of keeping them dwarf, for leggy plants 

 are most unsightly in appearance, as compared with those havino- 

 stems only a few inches in length. " 



The Potato Prizes offered by Messrs. B. K. Bliss and Son last year and 

 referred to in the Floral World for March last, exercised such a healthy influence 

 on the cultivation of the potato, that the same firm has determined to ofier this 

 year prizes for the same potatoes, amounting in the aggregate to 1500 dollars and 

 the area of competition has been extended, so as to enable cultivators on this side 

 or the Atlantic to compete. 



April, g 



