84 



THE FLORIST. 



in a mild, growing temperature of from about 45° at night to 60° 

 with sunshine. The shoots must be stopped or cut back, as may be 

 necessary to insure a compact, bushy growth ; and young branches 

 will be produced much more freely, if two or three pairs of leaves 

 are removed from the points of the shoots ; and this should always 

 accompany stopping. ]f the roots are abundant and active, shift into 

 pots two sizes larger than those the plants are in ; but first see that 

 the ball is properly moist, and be careful to have the soil to be used 

 in the same condition. Nothing is more likely to cause failure than 

 neglect of this. The side-shoots should be tied out, keeping them 

 near the surface of the soil. Keep the atmosphere rather close and 

 moist, and water carefully till the roots start into the fresh soil. 

 When the plants have broken and are fairly started, the tempera- 

 ture may be increased to about 55° at night, and from 65° to 75° 

 with sunshine. This high temperature must not, however, be main- 

 tained without a free circulation of air ; for the Kalosanthes, like 

 most Cape plants, very much dislikes a stagnant atmosphere, and it 

 requires all the light which can possibly be aflforded it ; therefore 

 admit air freely, and keep the plants near the glass. 



In May, or as early as warm weather sets in, they may be removed 

 to a cold frame, where, with a little care, they can be kept sufficiently 

 warm, and where the conditions most conducive to vigorous growth 

 will be readily supplied. Air should be freely admitted whenever 

 the state of the external temperature will permit ; although a stag- 

 nant humid atmosphere is injurious, with a circulation of air it can- 

 not be kept too moist; if they stand on a bed of coal-ashes, this 

 should be watered on the mornings of bright days, and the plants 

 sprinkled over head towards evening, leaving a little air on during 

 night, and a thin shade should be thrown over the glass during the 

 forenoons of bright days, but use this sparingly. A liberal supply of 

 water will be necessary whilst the plants are in active growth ; but 

 give them no more than is requisite to keep the soil in a healthy moist 

 state, and when the pots are moderately well filled with roots, ma- 

 nure-water in a clear weak state may be used with advantage two or 

 three times a- week. 



The treatment of the plants after midsummer must be regulated 

 by the size of the specimens desired. To produce large flowering 

 plants, such as that represented in the accompanying wood-cut, it will 

 be necessary to grow them two seasons, and in this case they should be 

 stopped and potted early in June, as they may have filled their pots 

 with roots. Have an eye to the formation of compact dwarf speci- 

 mens, and stop and cut back as freely as may be necessary to secure 

 this; for they break freely, and there is no danger of injuring them by 

 stopping or cutting back. If plants to produce about a dozen heads 

 of bloom each are aU that is wanted, with good management this may 

 be secured by one season's growth; but if large specimens are desired, 

 it will be necessary to grow them two seasons. Plants intended to 

 flower the following spring should receive a rather large shift at the 

 beginning of the season, and must neither be stopped nor potted after 

 the end of June. It is easier to produce large handsome specimens 



