APRIL. 121 



not because it had of late become so popular, but because it was adapted 

 for town culture, and no doubt kept many a man more at home amongst 

 his family, and tended in some degree to that moral improvement 

 which it is desirable to attain. 



Mr. Andrews presented the society with some very prettily executed 

 coloured drawings of the principal varieties, framed and glazed, and 

 intimated his intention of giving more to decorate the rooms of the society. 



In conclusion, it may be remarked that the success in the formation 

 of this society has been the means of establishing others in Peckham, 

 Mile End, and north London. An interesting paper was read by 

 the chairman (through the kindness of Mr. Broome) furnished by Mr. 

 Wiggins, gardener to Mr. Beck, of Isleworth. From this the following 

 are extracts : — 



December. — Take the strongest cuttings from healthy plants, extract all bottom 

 eyes and foliage ; place each cutting in a 3-inch pot, the compost to consist 

 of rich loam and silver sand. Plunge the pot in a cold frame filled with 

 ashes and decayed leaves ; keep them in this state till they are well rooted. 



January. — Plants in the same state. 



February. — Remove out of 3-inch pots to 48 size. Add to the compost pounded 

 oyster shells. Water moderately, and place them in the frame as before.. 



March. — Plants in the same state as previous month. Stop or rather extract 

 the crown at the height of from 5 to 6 inches, leaving 3 inches clear stem. 



April. — Repot into 32-sized pots. Compost composed of rich loam and rotten 

 dry cowdung, silver sand, and pounded oyster shells. Water occasionally 

 with weak liquid manure. Except invery cold weather, keep the plants well 

 exposed to the air and sun. Stop the laterals sufficiently grown, say to 3 or 

 4 inches, as in March. 



May. — All well started plants with 7 or 8 of the best eyes should be selected 

 from each break, and the remainder taken off. Continue watering with weak 

 liquid manure, and pegging the shoots down regularly all round the pot. 



June. — Shift into small 24-sized pots ; compost as before. Shoots grown from 

 3 to 4 inches stop again ; keep pegging down. Before stopping plunge the 

 pots in a sheltered place in the garden three parts down. Syringe night and 

 morning all over the foliage. 



July. — Shift plants into 16-sized pots, being the last change. Compost a little 

 stronger by adding more decayed cowdung. Stop for the last time at the end 

 of the month. Bestow great attention to pegging each shoot regularly to fill 

 up all vacant places ; let the shoots that are pegged down be clear of mould 

 in case they strike root. 



August. — Liquid manure to be made of equal portions of rabbit, sheep, and cow- 

 dung, with a little soot ; half a bushel of this mixture to 40 gallons of soft 

 water. Give plain water once a day, and this liquid night and morning. 

 Use the syringe freely, and if green fly shows itself, use tobacco water when 

 sprinkling the foliage. 



September. — Attend strictly to pegging out the branches where they are required 

 to fill up. Keep the circular form as true as possible. Strictly attend to 

 watering and syringing. 



October.— The plants are now at their full growth, and should be 5 feet across, 

 buds the size of a Pea. If weather cold and indicating frost, take them out 

 of open borders, and put them under glass or some temporary covering. 

 Damp the ground or house where they are, to create moisture. Syringe 

 under the foliage as well as the top. A little tobacco water may be used 

 occasionally, buds showing colour at the end of the month. 



November.— Tie all plants at the beginning of this mouth into the form intended 

 for exhibition at least a fortnight before wanted, to allow the blooms to assume 

 their proper position. By thus growing, plants should be produced with 

 from 1000 to 1500 blooms, 4 to 5 feet across, 15 inches high, with good foliage. 



After a vote of thanks to the chairman and others the meeting separated. 



