516 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



lished sections, within Lite years there have been some self-coloured 

 flowers introduced which to many growers will prove very valuable, as 

 they are extremely hardy, vigorous in growth, and free in flowering. 

 In fact, unless special care can be taken of them, cultivators would 

 have more satisfaction in growing these with a selection of Picotees, 

 and a few of the very strongest-growing of the Bizarres and Flakes, 

 than in growing too large a collection of the finer kinds. When 

 planted out of doors, the ground should be turned over to the depth 

 of at least two feet the autumn previous to planting, and again in 

 spring dug over to a good depth, in order to have the ground in a free 

 and open condition. This is a point of considerable importance, as 

 unless the soil is in a condition to insure quick rooting and a free 

 and strong growth before the sun gains much in power, the plants are 

 very liable to die off. The end of March or beginning of April is 

 time enough to plant out. The most suitable sorts for planting out are 

 Rev. J. Dix, Excelsior, Princess of Wales, and Brilliant — Selfs ; Lord 

 Valentia, Regularity, Countess of Wilton, William Summers, Lady 

 Elcho, Mary, Picco, Beauty of Plumstead, and Bertha — Picotees ; 

 Garibaldi, Mars, Queen Victoria, Warrior, and Purity — Bizarres ; Ajax, 

 Squire Meynell, and Sportsman. These are a few kinds which have 

 been found to succeed with above treatment. 



When cultivated in pots it is a very necessary point to have the plants 

 strong before placing them in their blooming-pots : no after-culture will 

 make up for a lack of strength at this stage. It is consequently of import- 

 ance to have the layers rooted early, and potted into small pots as early 

 in October as possible, to secure this. Or if plants are to be purchased, 

 no time should be lost in doing so. In cases where the plants are 

 weakly, and make no progress in cold frames, they should be removed 

 to a structure where they can be kept just moving, at the same time 

 that plenty of air can be introduced in fine weather to keep the foliage 

 strong. The kind of soil that they appear to delight in is a light loam, 

 with the addition of a little rotted manure, such as spent mushroom- 

 dung. It is not well to pot too early, in case of check afterwards ; but 

 the beginning of April is quite as late as this should be delayed. A 

 9-inch pot will grow two plants. The drainage should be made thor- 

 oughly good, the soil firmed as much as possible, and means taken that 

 the soil does not get saturated with rain before the roots have got a 

 good hold of the sides of the pots. If a covering of sashes can be secured 

 in case of necessity during the first six weeks after potting, there will 

 be no fear of the plants afterwards. The routine work of the summer 

 months consists in watering regularly, keeping the growing flower-stems 

 tied to their stakes as they advance in growth. If intended for exhibi- 

 tion, the buds must be kept thinned — from one to three on a stem being 

 a sufficient number to leave. The sashes may be again called into use 

 when buds commence to open. Covered with these there will be no 

 danger of the flowers being damaged with rain. A watchful eye must 



