450 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



not stand long when the days arrive at their shortest, unless they are 

 well exposed to air and light, and the natural warmth of the autumn 

 assisted with fire-heat. 



It may also be expected, as an unpleasant contingency, that plants, 

 like other things, will flower late this autumn, so that the gardener had 

 better prepare himself for the emergency by anticipating events. 



In the autumn there are Chrysanthemums which are grown by the 

 hundred in many gardens, but which are considered objectionable as 

 cut flowers in not a few places. There is, however, variety enough in 

 a good collection to make a fine show in the conservatory, without 

 drawing much upon other resources ; and this compensates for the 

 disfavour in which they are sometimes held as cut flowers. 



Taking a rough glance at the prospect of cut flowers for early winter, 

 we have forced Roman Hyacinths, the old white Azalea indica, and 

 old plants of Bouvardias, in scarlet and white, which are indispensable 

 subjects in every garden. 



Old plants of the latter are decidedly preferable to young ones for 

 autumn flowering, and should be kept growing up to about the begin- 

 ning of October, not in a strong heat, but in an aspect where the wood 

 will not turn hard, but continue to furnish an abundance of shoots, 

 which in turn will supply quantities of flowers of transcendant merit for 

 all purposes of decoration. A batch or so of Zonale Pelargoniums (old 

 plants) brought into heat about the same time will supply scarlet flowers 

 until Poinsettias and Plumbagos come in ; and a batch of spring-struck 

 Pelargoniums will continue to flower up to February, if kept in a cosy 

 little house near the glass, and well supplied with liquid manure and 

 plenty of fresh air. Eucharis amazonica, for supplying winter flowers, 

 should be chosen from the largest bulbs which have finished their 

 growth about the end of September, and be kept barely on the move 

 until the beginning of November, and plunged in a sharp bottom-heat, 

 when every bulb, according to its size and development, will throw up 

 a spike bearing from five to seven flowers. A few plants of Imanto- 

 phyllum miniatum treated in the same way will make a most effective 

 companion for the Eucharis. Large plants of Gardenias that were 

 cut back and pinched at two or three different times through the 

 summer, with a view of securing a succession of blooms for the next 

 six months, should be kept moving steadily ; and young plants propa- 

 gated this season, and intended for flowering early next summer, should 

 (if their buds are not already set) be kept on the dry side at a mean 

 temperature of 60°, so that they may set their flower-buds and progress 

 satisfactorily for the purposes for which they are intended. Little 

 plants of Torenia Fourneri, pegged down to about 6 inches high, make 

 handsome little bushes for vases, or front rows for stands ; and small 

 plants of Clerodendron fragrans are useful for the same purpose. A 

 batch of Begonia Fraetelli, raised from seed this season, are now coming 

 in useful, their deep glossy leaves and bright flowers being attractive 



