254 THE FLORIST. 



which should be considered the final one for the season ; this will 

 give sufficient time for the pot to be furnished with roots before the 

 season is too far advanced, will retard its growth before winter, and 

 bring it into a proper condition for resting. After it has become well 

 established in its pot, it may gradually be exposed to more sun and 

 air, and should the weather continue settled, it may be placed in a 

 partially shaded situation out of doors ; but if heavy rains and winds 

 occur, it should be immediately removed to a place of protection, such 

 as a cold pit or Cucumber-box, the latter being raised upon flower- 

 pots, to allow a free circulation of air from below, keeping the lights 

 on, in all unsettled showery weather, to throw off the water. It may 

 remain here until the time has arrived for housing all kinds of green- 

 house plants, which is generally in September, earlier or later accord- 

 ing to the weather ; for leaving out greenhouse plants too late in the 

 season is a very great evil, more especially if the weather continues 

 wet and dull, as their foliage becomes brown and unhealthy in con- 

 sequence of always being kept cold and damp. When removed to 

 the greenhouse, select a nice dry airy situation for it, where it will 

 be exposed to the full sun, and where there will be a free circulation 

 of air around it all through the winter, keeping it often turned to 

 prevent its growing one-sided, and paying great attention not to 

 allow it to be too bountifully supplied with water during the dull 

 months. 



When March has arrived, it may again be potted, treating it pre- 

 cisely as before, bearing in mind to keep it regularly topped each 

 time after it has recovered from the effects of potting. By paying 

 attention to this point, there will be no difficulty in procuring a fine, 

 even symmetrical plant ; but should one part happen to show a dis- 

 position to grow more rapidly than another, top it in closer, leaving 

 the other only slightly topped, which will bring it to equal dimen- 

 sions all round. If it advances satisfactorily, it will require another 

 potting in June; this should, again, be considered its final shift for 

 the season; and after it has got re-established from this shift, top 

 it regularly all over, and should it be required to bloom the following 

 summer, this must be considered its final topping, as late topping 

 and late potting will cause it to grow too long in the season to insure 

 a fine and regular head of bloom the following summer. But by 

 early potting, and allowing it to become well established after its last 

 shift, before the topping is performed, it will be found that the young 

 wood it makes, if well ripened by winter, will produce in the follow- 

 ing summer abundance of fine bloom, which will continue from June 

 till December if required, and will afford a bountiful supply to cut 

 for bouquets, as no plant is better adapted for this purpose than the 

 one under consideration. 



When the plant has become of sufficient size to allow it to bloom, 

 some stimulating material judiciously applied will be found of the 

 greatest benefit ; for this purpose I have found Potter's guano answer 

 admirably, taking two or three good pinches of it in the hand, and 

 shaking it upon the soil when dry, using a small stick to stir it in. 

 Upon this apply some soft water. Repeating this process three or 



