THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 299 



After they have done blooming, they should be plunged in their pots, 

 in a north aspect, and covered over with short manure, about halt' 

 decayed, and h\ the autumn and coming winter they will be found 

 quite equal to do the forcing work again ; in fact, some I treated so 

 appeared to me not only to bloom stronger, but earlier, the second 

 year, and without requiring so much heat. 



The early-flowering Acacias begin to come into bloom nicely 

 about Christmas, the old Armata being about the first to show 

 flower : this variety is very showy, and its sweet-scented blossoms 

 are much admired. But the plant is rigid and stiff" in its growth, 

 and wears altogether a shabby appearance when out of flower, aud 

 so is not a universal favourite. But a great deal can be done to 

 make this respectable at all seasons ; for instance, when the plant 

 has done blooming, let it be cut into shape a bit, then look to the 

 soil, and renew that, also give it a larger pot should it be required, 

 and finally, give it a moderate amount of attention during the 

 summer, and it will amply repay for all in the coming winter by a 

 profusion of its golden-yellow blossoms. I must particularly re- 

 commend A. Drummondl as the best of the whole fiimily for our 

 purpose. The habit of the plant is graceful, the flowers are borne 

 in great abundance, the colour is straw-jellow, and it continues a 

 long time in flower. After blooming, repot them if required ; the 

 proper soil is a light sandy peat, with but a small proportion of 

 yellow loam and leaf-mould added — say three parts sandy peat to 

 one part loam and leaf-mould. 



There are nice little plants of the Otalieite Oranr/e imported into 

 this country every autumn, full of flowers aud fruit in various stages 

 of growth. They look very pretty mixed up with other plants, and 

 of course are very desirable. They require careful treatment, a 

 snug warm house rather humid in its atmosphere, and occasional 

 doses of weak liquid manure. 



The fragrance of their flowers renders the Daplines favourites 

 with everyone. Indeed, Daphne indica rubra, with its compact 

 trusses ot delicious flowers and dark green foliage, is a glorious 

 subject. This daphne should be in every large place, as it is easily 

 managed, aud extremely effective : anyone who grows a camellia 

 well will find no difficulty with the daphne. 



There are also the Gardenias, well worth growing for the 

 grateful perfume of their flowers, and Gardenia radicans and G. 

 florida can be easily brought into flower early in the year, by the 

 help of a little bottom-heat ; they require plenty of water when 

 growing; and after they have done flowering if they are allowed to 

 have a season of rest, they will bloom all the better for it. Before 

 they are started to grow they should have their soil renewed : let it 

 be a mixture of sandy peat and leaf-mould. Remove all the old 

 soil that wdl easily come away without much disturbing the roots, 

 then pot aud plunge in bottom-heat ; this, with a liberal supply of 

 water overhead and at the roots, will stimulate them into growth, 

 and plenty of flowers will be the result. 



October. 



