THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 343 



will be the inevitable result. Another error wliich necessarily ewsuea 

 from permitting the uppermost buds to remaia is, that as they have 

 mostly begun to grow before the flowers are withered, the plants are 

 deprived of their season of repose, and kept in a continual state of 

 excitement. But, when pruned back to the lower buds, they may 

 be placed in a cool .place, and left without any water till the begin- 

 ning or middle of February. Sometimes, before they are again 

 excited, a quantity of the earth should be shaken out from the roots, 

 and fresh compost supplied. A rich loam, full of decaying vegetable 

 fibre, and a third part of leaf-mould, makes an excellent mixture for 

 them. When good peat can be easily procured, a portion may be 

 added, but it is by no means indispensable. 



A great mistake is committed by putting in heat immediately 

 after they are potted. It is quite necessary to leave them a week or 

 two in a cool place, that the buds may acquire additional vigour, and 

 the plant be storing up sap to feed them when they are once more 

 wanted to grow. Moreover, some of the roots will certainly be 

 damaged in clearing them of the old earth and re-potting, and if the 

 plants are removed too suddenly to a high temperature, the buds will 

 begin growing before the roots are in a condition to convey a suffi- 

 ciency of nourishment to support them. A pit, where a temperature 

 of from 60 to 70 degs. can be maintained — according to the external 

 weather and the advancement of the season, together with a propor- 

 tionate humidity, is far preferable to a hous^e during the first stages 

 of growth. A rather liberal supply of water will be needful, and a 

 gentle circulation of air. As the season advances towards midsummer, 

 more and more air should be given, and the sun must never be 

 allowed to shine fully upon them, as it is injurious to the young and 

 tender foliage. After the middle of July a pit is no longer necessary, 

 and the plants will be benefited by being removed to the shade of a 

 north wall, where they can also be sheltered from strong winds. 

 Here they may be permitted to remain till the beginning of Sep- 

 tember, by which time every branch will be crowned with a tuft of 

 flower-buds, and they will need no other heat to develop them than 

 what is aftbrded by a close pit. Indeed it is a very pernicious practice 

 to give them much heat, for the flowers will be larger, and stronger, 

 and better coloured, as well as able to last for a longer period, if 

 slowly and steadily brought on till they expand ; and, moreover, the 

 leaves will have time to gain a fuller green. 



It will be seen, then, by the foregoing observations, that the 

 ordinary method of growing them in a stove is far from being the 

 most appropriate. The plants are by that method rendered so 

 tender, that they will scarcely endure the temperature of the green- 

 house whilst in fiower. Another evil is, that whilst the flowers are 

 inferior, the length of the stems is increased to a weakening degree. 

 The resources of the plants are thus drawn upon in an increased 

 ratio to furnish nourishment to that which, so far from being an 

 improvement to the appearance of the specimens, is decidedly a 

 detraction from their beauty, and at the same time an injury to their 

 constitution. The main reason for giving them a situation, when 

 they are removed from the pit, where they may be continually 



