258 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



usually grow very freely. Well established plants, in three-incb 

 pots, purchased at once, of any of the kinds rccntioued, will bloom 

 during the forthcoming winter ; but they will not present such a 

 fciilliant appearance as large specimens. Xeverthelees tliere will be 

 an advantage in buying now, because the plants will, when pruned 

 back in tlie spring, produce a number of side-shoots, and a plentiful 

 supply of cuttings will be secured. The young shoots taken off 

 close to, or one joint from, the stem, will, with the assistance of a 

 brisk bottom-heat, strike freely. The most satisfactory results will 

 be insured by inserting the cuttings singly in small sixties filled 

 with a mixture of peat and sand ; and then plunging them to the 

 rim in the propagating bed in the stove, and shutting them up close. 

 They will soon strike and be ready for a shift into pots two sizes 

 larger. Over potting is not good for them, but a shift from small 

 sixties to five-inch pots will not be too much. The compost should 

 consist of equal parts turfy loam, fibrous peat and leaf mould, and 

 a good sprinkling of silver sand. A moderate bottom-heat will be 

 of considerable value in assisting them to make new roots and become 

 established quickly ; but even without the aid of bottom-heat they 

 will soon recover from the shift, and commence to make a vigorous 

 growth, provided they are placed in a warm corner, and lightly 

 sprinkled overhead occasionally. Immediately they are nicely 

 established, after the first shift, and the roots begin to run round 

 the outside of the pot, each plant must have the point nipped out, to 

 promote the production of side-shoots. lu a very brief period they 

 break freely, and will be in need of repotting. It rcust be determined 

 at this stage whether medium or large specimens are required. If 

 the former, shift the strongest into eight-inch pots, and the others 

 into six-inch pots ; to produce large specimens, put three plants 

 together in ten-inch pots, which may be readily done by squeezing 

 the upper part of the ball of soil. After this no stepping or repot- 

 ting will be required, and all the attention they will need will be 

 to supply them with water, and maintain the foliage in a clean state. 

 But as they are less susceptible to attacks from insect pests, than the 

 majority of stove ])lants, the maintenance of the foliage in a cleanly 

 condition will not be very difiicult. Old plants will require pruning 

 in the spriug ; and after they have started nicely, to be turned out 

 of the pots, the ball of soil reduced, and put in pots of the same size 

 again. They will then require repotting as may appear necessary 5 

 but, as a rule, one shift will be quite sufficient to insure a vigorous 

 growth throughout the summer. 



Tbe Caen Academy of Science "and Art, as we It arn from "Nature," pro- 

 poses as the Eubject of the Le Sauvage Prize, of tbe value of 4000 francs, to be 

 awarded in 1876, the quettiou of the " Fuiictiou of Leaves in the Vegetation of 

 Plants." The Academy does not want simply an exposition of the present state of 

 science on this important quettion ; it requires, bcbides, from competitors, exact 

 experiments perfornied by iLeu.selves, and new facts tending to throw light upon, 

 invalidate, confirm, or modify doubtlul points in the theories at present accepted. 

 The esEnjs to be sent to the Academy before January 1, 1876. 



