230 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



these ^vith a little rough stuff, and fill with a mixture consisting of 

 equal parts of turfy loam, peat, and well-decayed cow or hotbed 

 manure, and a small proportion of sand. Press the soil moderately 

 firm to prevent its sinking afterwards, and make the surface quite 

 level. Sow the seed thick, cover lightly with a little fine sandy soil, 

 and place in a frame, where it can be kept close until the young 

 plaiits make their appearance above the surface. Until such times 

 as the seed has germinated, keep the soil in a moderately moist 

 state only, for an excess of water supplied at this stage would tend 

 to cause a sourness of the soil, with the consequent result that the 

 growth would not be thoroughly satisfactory. Immediatel}' the 

 youug plants can be seen admit a little air, and as they acquire 

 strength ventilate more freely, as it is of the highest importance to 

 secure a stocky growth. Water can also be more liberally supplied. 



When the plants are large enough to handle conveniently com- 

 mence to thin, removing a few at each thinning to prevent over- 

 crowding, and at the same time allow sufiicient time lor the plants 

 to show which are likely to make the most satisfactory progress. 

 At the final thinning reduce to six in each pot. They can remain 

 in the frame until the second week in October, and be then removed 

 to a shelf in the greenhouse, where they will enjoy the advantages 

 resulting from a free circulation of air. It is preferable to place the 

 stock in a pit which can be heated at pleasure, because the plants 

 can be kept near the glass, and receive whatever attention may be 

 necessary without interfering with anything else ; but a shelf in the 

 greenhouse will do very well indeed. 



When the pots are well filled with roots, shift a portion of the 

 stock into pots one size larger, and remove the flower-spike from 

 the main shoots of all the plants shifted. Use at this shift a com- 

 post prepared by incorporating together two parts turfy loam and 

 a part each of peat and thoroughly-decayed manure. The other 

 portion will be required for flowering early, and should not be 

 shifted or stopped. If the stock is large, a portion of the batch 

 shifted may be repotted again in January, and have the flower-spikes 

 removed from the laterals to encourage the production of side shoots, 

 and for retarding the flowering season. A few neat stakes should 

 be employed to support the principal shoots. 



As regards the selection of sorts, it is not needful to say 

 much ; but as there is a considerable difi^erence in the various strains 

 I would observe that for pot culture the Bouquet j^yrO'inldal, White 

 floicered, and Nana compacta muUiftora are the best. The last- 

 mentioned is dwarf and free flowering, and the white-flowered is 

 remarkable for its sweetness. The first-mentioned is especially 

 adapted for large bush specimens. 



Flok.v of Japan. — A valuable contribution to our knowledge of the Flora of 

 Japan and Mantschouria is in course of publication in the Bulletin of the Imperial 

 Academ_y of St. Petersburg. M. Maximo wicz has communicated to the Academy a 

 series of papers, entitled, " Diagnoses Plantarum novarum Japonice et Msnd- 

 shuriaj," in -which he gives technical descriptions and diagnostic characters of 

 many of the plants of these countries. 



