130 THE FLORIST. 



from such the Cineraria can only be properly gro\vn. As the plant is 

 now in bloom, and seedlings will be required, a few of the most 

 esteemed varieties should be selected for that purpose, bearing in mind 

 that those chosen must be of the best possible form, clear colours and 

 marking, as much depends on this in producing new and first-rate 

 varieties. When this is done, some secluded place in the garden 

 should be selected, to keep them entirely apart from any inferior varie- 

 ties, fi'om which the bees would fertilise them, and produce muddy, 

 unsightly flowers, instead of clear and well-defined colours. When 

 the seeds are ripe, sow immediately in some shady place ; and as 

 soon as large enough, prick off thinly into pans or wide pots, and keep 

 close for a few days, until they are properly established, when they 

 may be removed to the open air until large enough to place in single 

 pots : should large plants be required, they should be stopped when 

 about two or three inches high. As soon as the seeds are gathered, 

 the old plants should be cut do^^^l, or partly so, as in many instances 

 the crowns of the plants rot if cut too close to the surface. Now that 

 they are cut down, remove them to some shady place (a north border 

 being preferable), until they throw up young shoots, when they should 

 be potted into larger pots, in a light compost, or planted out in the 

 open ground in a light soil, where they will give strong cuttings, and 

 from these only can good specimens be obtained. When they have 

 gro^^^l about an inch or two, remove the cuttings, and place them in a 

 compost prepared for the pui-pose — composed of equal parts of loam, 

 leaf-mould, and silver sand, taking care to well drain the pots wth 

 potsherds. When rooted (which will be in about a fortnight), pot off 

 into thumbs or small 60s, in a nice light soil. 



Should first-rate plants be wanted, every care mil now be required 

 to keep them in a growing and healthy condition, to which end they 

 should be shifted every few weeks, until they receive their final pot- 

 ting, which should be about January ; every care should be taken that 

 they do not get pot-bound in the small pots, as that will throw them 

 into a blooming state immediately. 



The compost we would recommend for exhibition pui-poses, and for 

 large plants generally, would be two parts of good turfy loam, and 

 equal parts of well- decomposed cow-dung and leaf-mould, with an 

 admixture of silver or river sand. As the plants grow, take care to 

 1 in out all superfluous leaves, so as to admit the air fi'eely and prevent 

 mildew, which is a great pest, and which can only be removed by 

 applying sulphur to the parts affected. 



The Cineraria should only be stopped once, as the second operation 

 tends to produce weak growth. As soon as the shoots are long enough, 

 tie out wide, keeping the outer branches as low as possible, and place 

 them close to the glass, which will insure dwarf and compact plants, 

 such as are represented in the accompanying illustration. We had 

 nearly forgotten the drainage, which should be of rough leaf-mould 

 and potsherds mixed, which vaB. keep the roots in a white and healthy 

 state ; fumigate occasionally, to prevent the green-fly ; and water 

 very sparingly through the winter months, increasing it as the spring 

 advances, when weak liquid manure may occasionally be given. 



