268 THE FLORIST. 



the middle of January, place it in a moderate heat, ranging from 50° to 

 60°, where it will soon become excited into growth. When such is 

 found to be the case, examine its roots, and if they are in a healthy, 

 vigorous state, and the pot full of them, prepare for potting the fol- 

 lowing compost, viz. fibrous sandy loam and peat mould in equal 

 proportions, half the quantity of well-decayed leaf-mould and sharp 

 sand, and some pieces of charcoal or broken potsherds. Mix these 

 well together and prepare a nice clean pot by well draining it. When 

 potting, press the soil down moderately tight ; be very cautious not 

 to sink the plant too deep into the fresh mould, keeping it well up, 

 so that when the potting is finished the old ball may be barely covered 

 with the fresh earth. 



When potted, place a few small sticks neatly round it for tying it 

 out into shape, spreading out the branches as wide as can conve- 

 niently be done without injury, for the purpose of opening the middle 

 of the plant ; this will encourage it to break and throw out young 

 shoots, with which to form the specimen as it advances in growth. 

 When this is performed, remove it into the house from which it was 

 taken, and in a fortnight it may be considered sufficiently established 

 in its new pot to admit of its being regularly topped, to which every 

 shoot that has two joints should be subjected ; this will cause it to 

 break regularly all over, and furnish itself with young wood close to 

 the pot. 



About the month of April it will require another fresh potting, 

 which should be given rather liberally, not merely removing it from 

 one size plant to the next, but giving it one three sizes larger than 

 the one it is now in, as it will be found to be a plant of very vigorous 

 growth, if properly treated. The same compost should be used as 

 before, but in a rougher, coarser state. After this is accomplished, 

 put it back into the place it previously occupied ; and in a fortnight 

 or three weeks it will be in a proper state to bear the operation of 

 regular topping, which should be performed on every shoot, removing 

 the tops of the short branches but little, while the longer and more 

 robust ones should be topped back two or three joints as circum- 

 stances may require, bearing in mind to have your plant of a nice, 

 even, regular shape, and keeping it spread out by tying all the out- 

 side shoots to small sticks, opening the middle, as it will always fur- 

 nish itself with abundance of wood. After it has broken regularly all 

 over, and made about one inch of growth, it should be removed to a 

 cooler house, which should be a greenhouse, making choice of a 

 place in it where it is not exposed to draught or cutting winds, and 

 where it may remain until the middle or latter end of June, when it 

 may be taken to a cold pit, where the lights can be removed and air 

 gradually given it, but not exposing it too suddenly, as this may give 

 it a severe check, and cause the leaves to become brown and un- 

 healthy. It may remain here until the proper time arrives for hous- 

 ing all greenhouse plants ; and after it has become inured to this kind 

 of treatment, the lights may be removed from it altogether on very 

 fine days, never allowing it to be exposed to heavy rains or storms. 

 If it progresses satisfactorily, it will require another shift about July ; 



