THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



223 



more than nine inches from the glass. 

 When the seeds are ve.s^etated, give 

 as much air as possible ; and by at- 

 tention the plants will begin to flower 

 about the beginning of December, 

 and keep in good condition for three 

 months. 



The final sowing should be made 

 about the beginning of October ; 

 using the same sort of soil and pots, 

 preparing the frame in the same man- 

 ner as directed for the preceding, and 

 taking great care in the watering and 

 thinning. By the beginning of March 

 the plants will commence flowering. 



When frost sets in, cover the 

 glass with mats and loose hay, taking 

 them off on every favourable oppor- 

 tunity, as the young plants, when 

 excluded too long a time from the 

 light, will turn yellow, and damp off. 

 I would also lay some long litter 

 around the frame, to prevent the frost 

 from penetrating through the sides. 



It may be well to mention that in 

 thinning, the plants ought to be left 

 as nearly of an equal size as possible 

 in each pot, retaining the largest in 



some, and the smallest in others. 

 This will give a longer succession of 

 bloom ; and, if at any time one sow- 

 ing is likely to be over before the 

 next is ready, pinch out the tops of a 

 few of them when they are beginning 

 to flower ; this will cause them to 

 break out again, and bloom three 

 weeks or a month later than the 

 others of the same sowing. 



The cultivation of mignonette in 

 boxes differs so little from that in 

 pots, and boxes being seldom used 

 except to stand in particular situa- 

 tions out of doors, it is unnecessary 

 to say much on that head ; but, when 

 they are used, the same sort of soil 

 that has been recommended for sum- 

 mer use will suit them very well. I 

 would, however, prefer to grow it in 

 pots till it begins to flower, and after- 

 wards to plant it into the boxes, where 

 it will continue to branch out and 

 flower for a long time. When it has 

 done blooming, these may (if wanted) 

 be filled again in the same manner, 

 and thus a constant succession will be 

 kept up. D. DoiG. 



PLANTS POR A SHADY WINDOW : FAEFUGIUM GEANDE 

 AND CLOTH OF GOLD GERANIUM. 



These are plants for a window with 

 little or no sun, and it is only under 

 window culture they attain what 

 Darwin would call their highest de- 

 velopment. Both plants so change, 

 or rather so increase in beauty under 

 the following treatment, as to appear 

 like different species beside the parent 

 plants grown in the ordinary way, 

 and none are so well adapted " to 

 make a sunshine in the shady place." 

 One thing is essential with both plants 

 — they must always face one iuay, 

 always he turned the same side to the 

 light. Take a strong plant of Farfu- 

 guim ; shift, if required, as it must 

 kave plenty of pot room. My expe- 

 rience proves that, to produce the 

 results intended, the Farfugium, con- 

 trary to other variegated plants, re- 

 quires a rich soil. Let it stand in a 

 saucer of water, and about once a 

 week add some weak guano water to 

 it. The leaves must be occasionally 



looked over for green-fly, and the top 

 dressed with fresh soil. The leaves 

 can never have too much watering 

 and sponging. The coarse greenhouse 

 leaves will decay, and be succeeded 

 by others beautifully blotched. But 

 it is in spring it reaches its greatest 

 perfection ; the ground colour of the 

 leaves then is a golden buttercup 

 yellow, veined and marbled with light 

 and dark green, and as glossy as if 

 varnished : a sight once seen not to 

 be forgotten. For the cut flowers of 

 summer, for the magnificent spikes of 

 gladioli, or for the bright colours of 

 the spring bulbs, it forms a fine back- 

 ground ; or the plants may be turned 

 out of doors, as mine now are, ia 

 summer (to make room for flowering 

 plants), and to harden them for winter 

 and spring. It must not be forgotten 

 this mode of gro« th is exhausting for 

 the plants ; consequently a supply of 

 young plants must be kept up by 



