MAY. 135 



that should be grown in pots, for the purpose of producing small sound 

 roots which winter easily, as well as being suitable for travelling to any 

 distance. The following varieties seldom produce sound roots in the 

 ground, and invariably perish before Christmas arrives, viz. ; — Annie 

 Salter, Bob, JMarvel, Duchess of Sutherland, Bishop of Hereford, and 

 George Villiers. It is as well to have a few pot roots of all the choice 

 kinds, in case of failure in any of the ground roots. These will winter 

 easily anywhere if excluded from frost. Ground roots should be well 

 dried before starting, and they keep very well in a dry warm cellar. 

 Many persons have no other convenience than placing them under the 

 stage of their greenhouse ; this answers very well if they can be kept 

 free from drip from above. By no means put them in a loft unless it is 

 heated, or the fr'ost will find them out. 



The ground for growing the plants in having been trenched in the 

 autumn, it will only be necessary to turn it over with the spade before 

 planting, choosing fine weather, when the soil is dry. Planting cannot 

 safely be commenced before the last week in Mai/, unless protection is at 

 hand for covering the plants during the night, ]\Iany — ourselves among 

 the number — do not plant until the first week in June. Several spits 

 of good rotten manure should be mixed with the soil immediately under 

 the plant. If the soil is weU prepared, and a good healthy plant put out, 

 very early planting is unnecessary, to say nothing of the danger of losing 

 the plants by frost. 



We cannot do better than repeat the following instructions : — " To 

 grow a good plant during the time it is in the pot is of far more import- 

 ance than early planting. Pot them into 4-inch pots, using rich soil ; 

 the pots should be drained with coarse partly decomposed leaf-mould, so 

 that in planting out there will be nothing to abstract fi'om the ball of 

 earth. A good start is of great importance ; therefore care should be 

 taken that the plant is grown to a fair size without draudng during the 

 time it is in the pot : the stouter it is the better, without being taU ; 

 and it should not be pot-bound at the time of planting out. Both the 

 roots and the point of the plant should be in a thriving condition, and 

 free from aphides. It may, perhaps, be unnecessary to state that the 

 plants must be carefully hardened off before they are turned out. If 

 the soil and plants are in a proper state, the first week in June wiU be 

 a good time for planting out, and with ordinary care and attention good 

 plants will be produced in time for the earliest exhibition. 



A short period will suffice to have plants of a good size, but it should 

 be borne in mind that hours lost in repotting them when in a young 

 state will make a difference of days in the time of blooming, and it is 

 important that this should be clearly understood, that no neglect in the 

 matter may take place. Examine the plants often, to see if any require 

 water ; by no means let them become dry so long as they are in pots. 

 Secure them with proper and strong fastenings at the time of planting ; 

 water whenever they require it, and sprinkle the foliage slightly with 

 soft water almost every evening. Tie out the branches, and, as the plant 

 increases in size, secure the side shoots firmly to extra stakes." 



AURICULAS. 



Here is another flower which we never show to any one without 

 the remark being elicited, ** Very beautiful, but so very difficult to 



