84 TEE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Where the trusses require thinning, do it with a sharp pair of 

 scissors, and cut away the small pips in the centre of the truss. 

 They will be coming into flower in April, and must still be protected, 

 and have plenty of air to keep the flower-stalk sturdy as well as for 

 the general health of the plants. As they come into bloom shift 

 into a frame with a north aspect. Here they are to remain until the 

 following October. From the beginning of March increased supplies 

 of water will be required, but no more must be used than is sufficient 

 to keep them in health, for if the soil in the pots once becomes very 

 wet, it is useless to expect the plants to do well, for they are 

 impatient of excess of moisture either at the roots or overhead. 

 As fast as the trusses fade, nip off the flower-stem a short distance 

 below the truss, unless it is intended to save seed. It should not be 

 forgotten that seed-bearing weakens the plant. From the time 

 they go out of flower until the end of July, they must have con- 

 stant attention in the way of watering and keeping clear of dead 

 leaves and green-fly, and have all the air possible. A very slight 

 shower now and then would be beneficial, but it will be best for 

 those who know very little about the matter, to always keep the 

 lights on in wet weather, as much judgment is required in the 

 exposure of the plants to rain. 



The general re-potting must take place about the last week in 

 July, or the first week in August. Beware of over potting. A five 

 or six-inch pot will be quite large enough for full -sized plants; 

 smaller ones will do best in 60's. The pots must be thoroughly 

 well drained to carry off the water quickly. In potting, fill the pot 

 about one-third part full of soil, and then shake out the plant. If 

 the tap roots of any of them are rather long and deficient of fibres, 

 cut them back slightly ; and if you see any signs of decay, they 

 ought to be cut above the unsound part, and the wound dressed with 

 powdered charcoal. When placed in the fresh pots the roots must 

 be spread out regularly, and the soil filled in rather firm, the base of 

 the lower leaves should stand about half an inch above the surface of 

 the soil. The re-potting will also be a good time for taking offsets, 

 which can then be slipped away very carefully and potted single in 

 small pots, or f veral in a larger one. Extra care must be exercised 

 in watering un" 1 the pots begin to get full of roots, but they must have 

 sufficient, as they will then begin to make their growth. They must 

 have an abundance of air, in fact a week or so after they are re-potted 

 the lights should be drawn off altogether, excepting when the 

 weather is wet and showery, and then they must be tilted back and 

 front. 



In October the plants require to be brought back into a frame 

 with a south aspect, in which they are to remain until the following 

 spring. All flower trusses that come up in the autumn should be 

 removed by first breaking off the trusses, and afterwards re- 

 moving the stem directly it begins to decay, for if allowed to rot 

 to the bottom it will most likely kill the plant. " Rot " is one of the 

 principal enemies the grower has to contend with. Sometimes it 

 begins at the neck, and at others at the extremity of the tap root. 

 The first is detected by the plant leaning to one side, and the best 



