i88i.] STOKING. 81 



of its native habitat, and its seasons of growth and rest are governed 

 according to nature's laws. I believe that half of the failures are due. 

 to the want of a proper season of rest ; but if properly managed, 

 there are few plants more accommodating, or more under control. By- 

 regulating its growth and rest it can be had in bloom at any season 

 of the year, and can be made to bloom two or three times a-year if 

 necessary, although I would not recommend blooming it more than 

 three, as it exhausts the energy of the plant. We have had a grand 

 display of it here for some time, which has prompted this paper. One 

 large plant has forty-eight flower-spikes, bearing 240 blooms, all of 

 good substance — a lovely sight. In all, there have been nearly 1000 

 blooms since the Chrysanthemums were over. For cut-flower decora- 

 tion, about Christmas especially, and through the dull season of the 

 year, they are invaluable. 



I may here give our mode of culture, which is very simple. We pot 

 them in a compost of peat and loam, and place them in a temperature 

 of from 70° to 80°, which suits them very well during their growing 

 period. While making their growth they occasionally get a little 

 weak liquid manure, from sheep-droppings, with a little soot. After 

 they have finished their growth they are removed to a temperature of 

 from 50° to 60°, and kept moderately dry at the roots. They should 

 have a rest of two months at least, after which they may be again 

 subjected to more heat to make them bloom. P. Mathieson. 



- HoLMEWOOD Park, Tuxbridge Wells. 



STOKING. 



Theee are few subjects of importance to gardeners that are not dis- 

 cussed in the pages of the 'Gardener' by thoroughly practical men, 

 and it cannot be said that the heating of our horticultural structures 

 has been left out in the cold. The qualities of various boilers, the im- 

 portance of economy of fuel, the circulation of the water in pipes, &c., 

 have been discussed at some length ; bad stoke-holes and bad stokers 

 have been condemned, and the advantage of improved stoke-holes and 

 good stokers have been commended. In the face of this, it may seem 

 superfluous for me to write more on the subject. The economic 

 management of our fires is, however, a matter of sufficient import- 

 ance, I venture to think, to warrant its being again brought before 

 your young readers at this season, many of whom will be fresh to the 

 stoke-holes since the publication of some of those articles. I shall 

 confine my remarks to a few plain directions as to the management 

 of the "fires," and will commence by pointing out what has to be 

 done in the morning. In the first place, pull the damper well out 

 and keep the ashpit-door closed, so that the smoke and dust do not 

 come out at the furnace-door when you begin to stir the fire. If the 



