148 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the stove, and syringed twice a day and watered copiously, and 

 with tepid h'quid manure twice a week after being fairly started. 

 It was exhibited in collections of stove and greenhouse plants at 

 Bath, Bristol, and Cheltenham, a perfect mass of bloom. I stripped 

 it of all expanded flowers after each show ; as soon as it became full 

 of flower again, it was taken from the stove to an intermediate 

 house, thence to the greenhouse, free from draught ; and a few days 

 before exhibiting I placed it out of doors in full daylight for a few 

 hours each day ; by this means the colours were much more brilliant 

 and intensified ; it was gradually dried off", and survived the 

 winters of 1860-1-2. In the spring of 18G2 I gave it a large 

 shift, in equal parts of peat, leaf-mould, and silver sand, with a good 

 depth of crocks for drainage. This plant of all others is the most 

 brittle ; its branches bearing over the brim of the pot, I found it 

 impossible to knock it out in the ordinary way ; therefore I pro- 

 ceeded to shift it as follows : having placed two bricks a few inches 

 apart, the pot was placed on them, and cracked all round with a 

 hammer and removed piecemeal ; then two strong pieces of bass 

 were placed between the bricks under the ball, and it was lifted by 

 the pieces of bass and lowered into its place (in the same manner as 

 a coflln is lowered). When I left it in June, 1862, it was eighteen 

 inches in diameter. The best way to make a good plant in a short 

 time is as follows: — "When the old plant begins to push, take off 

 pieces about three inches long and lay them on the top of a pan or 

 pot filled with a sandy mixture ; they must be laid on the top and 

 gently pressed, as vine eyes are done ; they will soon root all along 

 the under surface, and throw up many shoots on the upper ; by the 

 autumu they are nice stocky plants. The following spring they 

 should be shifted without separating, and will make good plants for 

 show by autumn. I have always found young plants to bear the 

 largest flowers. Nothing can be more efl'ective than this plant is for 

 exhibition ; its quaint-looking flowers, of rich vermilion, green and 

 yellow, contrasted with its dark stems, and leaves of a purplish- 

 green, make it one of the very best for a conspicuous place in the 

 front rank, where it is sure to be mobbed. Its culture is most 

 simple ; but if watered much during winter, that is almost certain 

 death to it. In June, 1861, I planted out two plants in the open 

 ground ; they flowered profusely. Aisr Ex-Exhibitoe. 



CULTIYATIOX OF THE MUSHEOOM. 



[HE bed should be made with fresh warm stable-dung, 

 mixed with at least one-fourth of vegetable mould from 

 decayed tree leaves, or with the same quantity of well- 

 rotted cow-dung. Then throw it up into a heap, well 

 mixing it in the process, and let it lay for a week or a 

 fortnight to let the burning steam and heat pass off", so that the 

 whole may become mellow, and of an equal temperature, in which 

 state it is in readiness for making the bed. 



