i88t.] a plea for HARDY FLORIST'S FLOAVERS. 377 



When the pots are full of roots they should be transferred into 5 and 

 6 inch pots, which are large enough for all decorative purposes ; and in 

 these sizes plants can be produced carrying from six to ten shoots. 

 The soil should consist of good loam and a seventh of thoroughly de- 

 composed manure, with sufHcient sand to render the whole porous. In 

 potting, the soil should be pressed firmly into the pots. After potting 

 they should remain in the shade for a time, and then be grown closer 

 to the glass, where more light and air can be given them to harden and 

 ripen the growth as it is produced, as upon this depends to a large 

 extent whether the plants flower well or not. If well grown they will 

 produce panicles of flowers from 18 inches to 2 feet in length. The 

 shoots should not be stopped later than the middle of the present 

 month, or they will not flower satisfactorily. When pinching the last 

 time a number of the tops of the shoots should be inserted in 3 or 

 4 inch pots, say from five to seven cuttings in each. These when well 

 managed make very handsome little plants to stand near the edge of 

 the stage, and well repay any little trouble they may entail. They 

 should not be stopped after being rooted or grown in strong heat, but 

 treated similarly in every respect to those in larger pots. Plumbagos 

 will do well in cold frames for a time during the hottest month of the 

 year, but must not be allowed to remain in them when the nights turn 

 cold. The plants soon show signs of being starved by the short-jointed 

 wood they commence to make. This being perceptible, they must at 

 once be removed to warmer quarters, where the temperature will not 

 fall below 55°, which will suit them until they come into flower. 



During the growing season the plants require a good supply of water 

 both at the roots and upon the foliage, with frequent applications of 

 liquid manure when they have filled their flowering-pots with roots. 

 Thrip and red-spider frequently attack them if allowed to sufi'er for 

 want of water at any time ; but if they do not get a check, and the 

 syringe is freely used, the spider can be kept down. 



The old P. rosea, in addition to this variety, although not so strik- 

 ing in colour, is really worth growing. Wm. Baedney. 



A PLEA FOE- HARDY FLORIST'S FLOWERS. 



The term florist's flowers has a somewhat wide range of meaning. 

 For instance, we have florists who would allow only a few species 

 within the circle to which they would give this name — as the Auricula, 

 the Polyanthus, the Carnation, the Tulip, and a few others, which 

 were long held as the very elite among common flowers. We have 

 others again who attach a wider meaning to the term, and include 

 recognised flowers of much shorter standing in their list ; but even 

 amongst those who have done the greatest service in bringing such 

 flowers as the Phlox, Pentstemon, and Pansy to their present per- 



