94 THE FLOKIST. 



crocks, serving, like the charcoal, the double purpose of drainage and 

 nutrition. 



After potting, they receive a good watering, shading them from 

 the sun for a few days ; at this time they will require a supply of soft 

 water about once a day; but as the season declines it must be gradu- 

 ally decreased. They are top-dressed the beginning of February with 

 the same kind of compost in which they are potted, increasing the 

 supply of water, with occasionally a stimulant of liquid manure. 



Give all the light and air you can in mild weather, and put on 

 the shutters when it is frosty. The plants should never be watered 

 over-head from the time you decrease the water in autumn until after 

 the bloom is over, when they may have an occasional light shower. 



While the plants are in bloom, select from your best varieties the 

 most perfect pips for hybridisation, taking care that the blooms from 

 which you take the pollen have favourite properties which the sorts 

 to be fertilised have not. When the seed is ripe, it is best to sow it 

 immediately, in pots of the same soil as you grow the plants in ; fill 

 them to within an inch of the top, press down even, and scatter the 

 seed regularly; then put just sufficient soil on the top to cover it. 

 After this is done, water as lightly as possible; cover with a hand- 

 glass, and keep moderately moist ; some of the seeds may make their 

 appearance in a few weeks, and the rest will come up early and strong 

 in the spring. 



When the young plants have made three or four leaves, they 

 should be planted out at once into pots about four inches in dia- 

 meter, where they are to remain to bloom. In these comparatively 

 large pots they are not so subject to drought, and are supported 

 without stint until they have shewn the first bloom, which is very 

 important ; for I have no doubt many a gem has been cast away as 

 worthless, that, under propitious treatment, would have become the 

 pride and glory of its raiser. 



Kill Field, Coventry. Samuel Cooke. 



[A good description and plan of an Auricula-box was given by 

 Dr. Horner, in the volume for 1850, p. 11, which we have found to 

 answer admirably ; but we recommend that the board for giving air be 

 hung on hinges instead of being made to slide, as represented. — Ed.] 



NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



March 24. — Some Cinerarias, Hyacinths, Cyclamens, Epacrises, 

 and'other plants of an interesting character, were contributed on this 

 occasion. Mr. Ivery, of Peckham, sent a Cineraria named Frances 

 Arabella, to which a label of commendation was awarded for its bril- 

 liancy of colour. It was vigorous in habit, with a large compact 

 truss of purplish-crimson flowers, having light disks. Mr. Keynes 



