THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



279 



In cultivating it, the first essential is a proper soil : the most 

 suitable is a mixture of about two-thirds sandy peat, and the rest 

 turfy loam ; if more loam is used, the plant often assumes a short 

 stunted growth, and does not produce its flowers so freely or so fine. 

 In potting, the soil should not be broken too much, but used rather 

 rough ; this allows the water to percolate through the entire mass 

 more regularly than when packed in closely. AV^hen potted in the 

 spring, plenty of room should be allowed the roots, as they grow 

 rapidly, and they may be reduced for the winter potting. At each 

 shifting a good drainage must be provided by placing first a few pieces 

 of broken pot, and on them some rough pieces of turf or peat. The 

 plant delights in a moist heat during the growing season, which com- 

 mences with it about the middle of December. 



Seasonal treatment is of vital importance in most cases, but with 

 respect to the plant under consideration, the difi'erence need not be 

 so strongly marked ; though a reduction in the size of the pot, and 

 so of the quantity of earth, and also of moisture, both topical and 

 atmospheric, should be observed at the close of the growing season, 

 which, as with other plants, occurs about September ; the plant is 

 then in a better state to pass through the winter, and to receive an 

 increase of stimuli at the season of increasing vigour. It may be 

 observed that as the plant produces its flowers from the points of the 

 current year's shoots, or on the new wood, more flowers will be pro- 

 duced by pruning every branch at the time of shifting for the winter, 

 which should be done at the usual period for such work — September. 



J. E. B. 



HAMBLINa THOUGHTS. 



H, let us leave these scenes of strife 

 To learn a happier mode of life, 

 And, far from city and from town, 

 Our days with sweeter moments crown ; 

 To ramble o'er the flowery heath, 

 And gather Flora's wilding wreath ; 

 And over glen, and wood and dale. 

 And barren moor and fruitful vale ; 

 And through the arches tall and wide 

 Of trees that grow in ancient pride ; 

 Over the fen and wood-crowned hill, 

 And down beside the pebbly rill ; 

 Over the green and mossy bank, 

 Where harebells grow all fresh and dank 

 Or in the cooling forest brake, 

 The echoing songs of birds to wake ; 

 And hear the blackbird's joyous notes, 

 Whilst on the breeze sweet music floats ; 

 To lie beside the mossy brink 

 Of fountains where the red-deer drink ; 

 Or on the cooling margin stray 

 Of laughing brooks, that glide away 



