80 THE FLORIST. 



As there are few plants with which I am acquainted that are more 

 liable to the attacks of the red spider than the Pimelea, it is neces- 

 sary to take some steps to prevent them injuring; the plants : for this 

 purpose I always found one pound of yellow sulphur put into a tub or 

 vessel of any description, adding to it six gallons of clean soft water, 

 and stirrirg all well together, a good remedy. As soon as you 

 discover them attacking your plants, take some of the mixture, lay 

 the plants down on their sides, and syringe them well with it. This 

 will always be found to answer admirably in keeping this pest in 

 check on any plant as well as the Pimelea, and no plant-grower who 

 knew the value of it would ever be without it ; and if there is a large 

 number of plants to superintend, a greater quantity may be made by 

 the same proportions, to supply any wants that may be required. 



As the plants advance in growth keep them frequently topped, 

 which will make them dwarf and bushy ; and about the middle or end 

 of July, if they have gone on satisfactorily, they will require another 

 shift into larger pots, using the same compost as before, as it will be 

 found the loam intermixed with the peat will add amazingly to the 

 health and vigour of the plant, which requires something of more sub- 

 stance than peat. When the plants are well established after this 

 time of shifting, they succeed much better by being placed out of 

 doors, in a sheltered and partially shaded situation ; but always attend 

 to topping them. Follow this up until late in the season, especially 

 such as Hendersonii, which in my estimation is by far the best of the 

 family j and I would advise those who grow for exhibition to procure 

 two or three plants of this variety. By attending to topping them you 

 may easily prepare a plant, and keep them in high perfection for three 

 months. If a plant is required to be in bloom in the early part of 

 May, keep it constantly topped until the end of November. The 

 next, to succeed it for June, keep topped until the end of December; 

 and the next, to succeed that for July, top till the latter end of 

 January ; by following this up you may always depend upon their 

 blooming fine at the time you require them. Spectabilis may also be 

 treated precisely in the same way, where a succession is required ; 

 while Decussata must be dealt with rather differently, by discontinuing 

 the topping at an earlier period, otherwise there is no certainty as to 

 its blooming ; to give satisfaction, I should not top this kind after 

 the middle of August. Spectabilis is also an especial favourite, when 

 grown healthy and clean. Many growers contend, that to have this 

 kind in perfection, it must be grafted upon some other variety, gene- 

 rally making choice of Decussata as proper for that purpose. Upon 

 this point I must beg to differ, as my opinion is, that Spectabilis is 

 the freest and most robust grower, when properly treated, of all the 

 family ; and it would answer admirably for stocks to work some of 

 the more delicate and slow-growing kinds upon. It is both free in 

 rooting and growth ; and when kept in a healthy state, none of the 

 others are so full of sap. My ground for holding this opinion is, that 

 I believe I was the first who brought this to any public exhibition. 

 My plant was raised from imported seed, and of course it was upon 

 its own bottom. The late Mr. Hunt of Hayes, Kent, procured a 



