THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



115 



votion to floriculture, so that its completion 

 adds another volume to the class of hooks in 

 which our literature is already so rich — 

 iv viable books on practical horticulture. 



After some remarks on the use of the Cal- 

 ceolaria for bedding', and an account of the. in - 

 traduction of the original species to this 

 country, the author gives the following in 

 structions on its 



•' GESEHAL O0I/TIVATIO2T. 



" The whole code of Calceolaria-culture 

 may be deduced from the recorded natural 

 habits of the plant. Dryness, heat, a close 

 atmosphere, and 'coddling' in any way are 

 death to it. Green fly, thrip, red spider, 

 and constitutional debility make friends with 

 the Calceolaria whenever it is denied fresh air, 

 a cool, moist soil, and abundance of light. 

 Pot plants, therefore, whether shrubby or 

 herbaceous, are not to be so exposed to the 

 sun as to get their roots heated ; nor must 

 they ever flag for want of moisture — even in 

 their young st.ite damp is less injurious 

 than drought ; and, above all things such a 

 degree of hardiness as they do possess is to 

 be encouraged, and this even in winter, so 

 long as they do not get positively frost- 

 bitten. 



" Calceolarias may be readily divided into 

 three divisions, two of which are striking 

 and distinct ; the third is a recent blending 

 of the other two. Herbaceous Calceolarias 

 are most strictly florists' flowers; they are 

 more tender than the shrubby kinds, less 

 easily propagated and preserved, and belong 

 to the gre?nhouse and the exhibition stage 

 rather than to the garden. Their large 

 blooms are produced on long foot-stalks, and 

 usually have more character as regards 

 floral development than the flowers of the 

 shrubby sorts. Unlike the latter, they do 

 not bloom continuously, but in a series of 

 separate efforts : whereas, when once the 

 shrubby kinds begin, they keep gay for the 

 rest of the season, and their flowers being 

 smaller and less perfect individually, but 

 more profuse, coming from all parts of the 

 plant, while the habit of the shrubby kinds 

 is closer, more bushy and compact ; and 

 hence for bedding they necessarily take pre- 

 cedence. 



"The third kind is the result of successful 

 crossing of the other two ; they are semi- 

 herbaceous, combining the more hardy habit 

 of the shrubby kinds with the larpe spotted 

 or self-coloured flowers of the tender kinds. 

 These latter are in much request, for the 

 strictly herbaceous kinds are so apt to die off 

 the first or second year after being raised, 

 that growers become weary of purchasing 



them ; and to obtain their fine flowers on 

 woody-stemmed plants, having the habit of 

 continuous blooming and easy propagation, 

 was a triumph of no small import. We have 

 yet to learn how far this crossing will effect 

 the selection for bedding ; the true shrubby 

 kinds, having for the most part vividly- 

 coloured flowers and strong constitutions, 

 keep the lead that way, while the new inter- 

 mediates are much esteemed for pot-culture. 

 "The soil for Calceolarias should be a com- 

 post of four parts yellow loam, one part leaf 

 mould, one part very much decayed cow- 

 dung, and one part sharp sand. In the 

 earlier stages of growth more sand and less 

 dung may be used. 



"The comparative hardiness of the Calceo- 

 laria must never be forgotten. Though it 

 takes a gentle heat kindly, and especially in 

 propagating, its strength can only be pro- 

 moted by a fair exposure at all seasons of 

 the year, except during severe frost. The 

 shrubby bedding kinds winter well in cold 

 pits, or in the coolest part of a greenhouse ; 

 and where there is neither of such contri- 

 vances, a simple board on hinges in a shel- 

 tered corner, to keep off storms and intense 

 sunlight, with a bed of coal-ashes beneath, 

 will carry them safely through all the four 

 seasons, except when severe frosts prevail." 



Omitting Mr. Hibberd's instructions on 

 hybridising and saving seed, the following 

 may be useful to many who would like to 

 raise a collection from seid. 



"propagating by seed. 

 " It maj' seem a loose way of treating the 

 subject, but it is really true that you may 

 sow when you like, grow them in any way 

 you please, and bring them into bloom at 

 almost any season, if you have the aid of a 

 greenhouse, and observe these principles of 

 culture which arise out of the habits of the 

 plant. 



" Suppose you begin in March. Sow in 

 pans, when the plants are up and strong, 

 prick them out round the edges of pots an 

 inch and a half apart. Keep the surface 

 always moist, and as soon as they touch each 

 other, pot them singly in three-inch pots, 

 with loam, pi at, a little sand, and veil-rot- 

 ted dung, and as soon as they fill the pots, 

 shift into four-inch ones, and th^n bring 

 them into bloom. They may be made liner 

 still by another shift into six-inch pots, and 

 it may be necessary to pinch out the trusses 

 as they show, to increase the size of the 

 plants; and when their roots fill the pots 

 again, they may be allowed to bloom, and, 

 if carefully tended all through, will not 

 need tying up, which, in nine cases out of 

 ten, is an ac Ithat testifies of careless culture. 



