THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 145 



sboots strike freely all the summer months, in a border on the north 

 side of a wall or hedge, using plenty of sharp sand. When not 

 required for exhibition, the plants should be cut over, and in a fe^ 

 weeks there will be an abundance of offsets, some of which will be 

 nicely rooted plants ; those that are not rooted will strike much 

 faster than cuttings taken from the branches, and form much more 

 healthy plants. 



The flower-buds ought to be taken off as fast as they appear, until 

 within about three weeks before the day of exhibition. For a few 

 days before the blooms are required they should be shaded with thin 

 cotton or other light fabric, being careful not to place the shading 

 too near the plants, or the colours will be bleached ; indeed, they 

 should be shaded as little as possible, and then only from bright sun- 

 shine or rain. Keep a sharp look-out for green-fly. It is perhaps 

 safer, however, to use precautionary measures : make a strong 

 infusion of tobacco, and with a piece of rag or sponge run a little of 

 it into the heart of each shoot. Repeat frequently, or until the 

 vermin disappear. 



For exhibition purposes it is advisable to grow a number of plants 

 in pots ; they can be much more easily protected from weather and 

 vermin, and generally speaking the blooms are finer in quality. 

 There are some varieties it is of no use attempting to grow in pots, 

 as their colours almost invariably run. The plants should be put 

 into thumb-pots about the beginning of October, and plunged 

 in sand in a cold frame ; the sashes should not be used unless 

 during severe weather. Take the first opportunity after the middle 

 of January of shifting to eight or nine-inch pots. Soil, decayed turf 

 and leaf-mould in equal parts, with a little sand ; it ought to be 

 mixed in the beginning of winter, and thrown into a sharp ridge, in 

 order that it may get all the frost going. Plunge the pots about 

 half their depth in a frame amongst sand or sifted coal-ashes. Never 

 put on the sashes, except during hard frost or drenching rains, until 

 the last week before the exhibition, and not even then unless the 

 weather is wet and variable ; the sashes not to be nearer to the 

 plants than two feet, and allowing a free circulation of air all round 

 the sides. 



Pansies in beds are easily protected from snails by putting pieces 

 of board on edge all round the beds, and occasionally give the boards 

 a touch along the outside with coal-tar ; the frames can be protected 

 in the same way. There is no way of preventing the ravages of the 

 wire-worm, or julus, but by hand-picking ; it causes considerable 

 trouble, but it is the only way to get rid of them. 



VOL. ir. — NO. T. 10 



