HO THE GARDENER. [March 



In removing the young plants which have pushed before the others, 

 care should be taken to prevent their roots getting broken, they being 

 of a very succulent nature. They should be well shaded from sunshine 

 until established, or drooping heads will be the consequence. With a 

 surface-heat similar to that in which they were rooted, they will 

 speedily fill their small pots, and should be grown on without a check 

 by shifting into 3 and 4 inch pots ; and as they root, they may be 

 gradually inured to cooler quarters. Those in the smaller size can be 

 potted into their final 5 or 6 inch pots, using compost of loam, charcoal, 

 and well-decayed cow-manure. 



By the beginning of June they will be sufficiently hardened to admit 

 of being grown in an unheated structure. We succeeded admirably, 

 even in Cumberland climate last year, in growing a very large quantity 

 in cold pits, slightly shaded from direct sunshine, and were rewarded 

 with plants clothed to the base with rich dark-green foliage, which 

 the cooler treatment tends to produce, as well as at the same time 

 materially to assist in providing stamina for floral development. They 

 were removed by the middle of September into a gentle heat, pushed 

 gradually on for two months in a minimum temperature of 60°, and 

 were in flower by the beginning of December. 



Well-rooted plants introduced to heat will stand copious manure 

 waterings. The quantity should be decreased, and finally withdrawn, 

 ere the scarlet bracts attain full development. 



Poinsettias, if grown by themselves, are not much subject to insects, 

 thrips being their chief enemy, which may be got rid of by smoking. 

 They require no syringing overhead — an occasional moistening of the 

 structure being sufficient. When the bracts have been cut, water should 

 still be given— not discontinued, as some do — until the foliage and 

 stems have been properly matured and fitted for a good start next 

 season. In the case of plants intended to be grown in the second year, 

 their shoots may be cut down to within an eye or two of the base, and 

 be kept partially dry until they heal their wounds ; but the roots should 

 not suffer for want of an occasional watering, which may be given more 

 freely as the eyes push forth into growth. When they have made a 

 slight start, shake them carefully out of the old soil, and pot them into 

 a smaller size, in a compost of one part loam and one part leaf-mould 

 and sand, using for next and final shift an addition of decayed cow- 

 manure, and treated in all respects as those raised from eyes. For dec- 

 orative purposes in rooms and halls they are objects of great attraction; 

 as also for vases or table decoration, and for making gay stoves in 

 which foliage-plants predominate. There are two varieties cultivated 

 in this country— P. pulcherrima and P. p. plenissima, the latter suc- 

 ceeding the former, and keeping up a long succession of flowers. The 

 latter variety has been highly spoken of in influential quarters, but I 

 confess to having neither seen nor as yet grown such splendid ex- 

 amples as certain writers have stated it to be capable of. I do not 



