MARCH. 7.) 



CULTIVATION OF THE PHLOX. 



The Phlox has of late years been making rapid progress in the 

 march of improvement ; and although nearly all the varieties of this 

 lovely tribe are of easy cultivation, and will grow freely in almost any 

 soil, still they are seldom seen so well managed as with a little extra 

 care and attention they might be. The following is the mode of culture 

 I have practised, and which has been attended with considerable success. 

 Li the hrst place select a sheltered, but at the same time an open, 

 situation, having a rich deep loam, not over sandy, at least one and a 

 half to two feet deep ; have it well trenched over in autumn in a rough 

 manner, and by all means avoid heavy manuring, but especially leaf- 

 mould or decayed vegetable matter, as this last substance generates 

 insects that are fatal to the young plants. If the ground has been well 

 manured for any previous crop, it is much safer to plant out without 

 manure, and rather give the plants a little in a liquid state once or 

 twice a week, just before they are coming into bloom. Nothing answers 

 this purpose better than sheep droppings ; it both adds to the size of 

 the spike and imparts to the foliage a dark shining green. I have been 

 rather particular on this point, as I have seen many fine collections 

 entirely lost from a want of caution in manuring. Also avoid, if pos- 

 sible, planting on a steep or sloping piece of ground, as few plants suffer 

 so soon from want of w^ater as the Phlox. In dry weather the beds 

 should receive a good watering at least once a week. Should this be 

 neglected the plants will come both weakly and prematurely into bloom, 

 and have a very unsightly appearance : and as young plants produce 

 much finer spikes than old ones, cuttings should be struck the summer 

 before wanted, under a handglass, and potted off as soon as struck 

 (v;hich will generally be in about four weeks), and kept in pots in a 

 cold frame over winter. Towards the end of IMarch, if the weather is 

 favourable, plant out in rows two feet by three, or according to circum- 

 stances. To procure a succession of bloom take the strongest cuttings 

 from the old stools, when they are about three inches long ; use 

 5-inch pots, putting one cutting into each pot ; place them in a gentle 

 hotbed, and when well rooted and hardened off, they may either be 

 planted out or repotted into eight-inch pots, plunged out in any shel- 

 tered situation, and taken into the greenhouse when they begin to show 

 bloom ; these will be found useful, if wanted for exhibition about the 

 end of August or beginning of September. To grow Phloxes in per- 

 fection, they should be renewed from cuttings at least every three 

 years ; and if wanted for exhibition two or three stems may be left on 

 an old, and only one on a young plant. Have them well secured to 

 stakes and protected from rain, scorching sun, &c. 



About the middle of March a selection should be made from plants 

 struck the previous season, taking care to choose those that are throwing 

 up vigorous shoots. Put one plant in each pot, allowing not more than 

 two stems on each, using pots from eight to twelve inches in diameter, 

 according to the strength of the plants, avoiding too much drainage. Pot 

 with rich fibry loam, adding a little sand and well decomposed manure ; 

 the dwarfer growing sorts may be placed under glass at once, either in 



