322 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



As soon as the cuttings are rooted, they should be potted off 

 either singly into 60's, or, if a good specimen is wanted at the 

 earliest possible moment, it is a very good plan to put three 

 plants in a 48 ; and, if convenient, it is a wonderful advantage to 

 them to return the pots to a nice gentle hotbed until the young 

 roots begin to feel the sides of the pots. The plants after this 

 should be kept in a growing temperature moderately charged with 

 humidity, say about 70° or 75°, and partially or wholly shaded from 

 the sun, in proportion to the age of the plants and the clearness of 

 the atmosphere. Specimens two or three years old will stand an 

 amount of sunshine that would totally annihilate young tender 

 plants a few montbs old that have been grown rather quickly. The 

 temperature and atmospheric conditions of an early vinery are as 

 close an approximation to the amount of heat, moisture, and shade 

 experienced by them in their native localities and habitats as we 

 can conveniently secure. They should have every encouragement 

 to grow strong by being potted on as fast as they require it, until 

 they reach 24's or 16's — either is a good size to flower them 

 in, but the last size should not be exceeded ; and they should 

 be managed so that the growth is completed by the end of August, 

 to afford plenty of time to ripen the wood, and induce an abundant 

 formation of flower-buds. This end will be best secured by placing 

 them in a comparatively cool and airy house for a time, and then 

 throughout the whole of the winter and spring months they will 

 flower abundantly in a warm greenhouse. 



As soon as the flowering season is over of the winter-blooming 

 kinds — say, for sake of clearness, the middle of March — they must 

 be pruned, but not too hard; and when they begin to make new 

 shoots, take them out of the pots, reduce the ball of soil, and repot 

 in the same size pots again. If the pots are then partially plunged 

 in a bottom-heat of about 75° or 80°, the plants will speedily start 

 into growth again. Bottom-heat is not indispensable, and equally 

 as good growth will be made, though not so quickly, if they are 

 placed upon the shelves of the stove or vinery. Keep rather dry at 

 the roots until they begin to take possession of the fresh soil, and 

 syringe overhead once or twice a day. When in full growth water 

 freely, avoiding excess, and once or twice a week after they become 

 pot-bound, give them weak liquid manure. During the winter, 

 water cautiously. The tuberous-rooted species must be dried off, 

 and the pots turned on their sides to prevent the soil getting 

 wet. 



It is of great importance to pot them in light rich soil, through 

 which the roots can travel freely. A very suitable compost may, 

 however, be formed with good turfy loam and leaf-mould, mixed in 

 the proportion of two parts of the former to one of the latter. The 

 loam must be broken up roughly, and, after adding the leaf-mould, 

 a good sprinkling of small crocks and a liberal proportion of silver 

 sand should be mixed with it, to keep the mass open and porous, 

 this condition being of the utmost importance. 



The plants should be nicely staked and tied out as the growth 

 progresses, for, besides giving them a much better appearance, and 





