1871.] AUTUMN AND WINTER PLANTS. 355 



slight shade from the mid-day sun for a short time. If the soil is at all 

 moist when potting, give little water till the plants show signs of growth, 

 when they should be regularly attended to with plenty of water. From 

 potting up to this time, and all through the growing season, let them 

 have at least one good syringing once a-day. This treatment should 

 be continued up till about the middle of September, when we gradually 

 give less water, and reduce the heat until we place them in a house 

 where the glass falls no lower that 40° at night. From this house a 

 few are taken at intervals into the forcing-house, where they soon show 

 their flowers. The following twelve are effective varieties : — magnifi- 

 cum, purpureum, tricolor, Russelianum, rubrum, superbum, violaceum, 

 Bridgesii, salmoneum, elegans, spectabile, amabile. 



WINTER -FLOWERING BEGONIAS. 



Another class of plants that should not be overlooked, as their culti- 

 vation is so easy. They do well on a shelf in a Pine-stove, or any place 

 where they can have a temperature of from 60° to 70°. They require 

 no bottom heat, at least we find them do well without it. The pro- 

 pagation for autumn and winter blooming should be begun in June, 

 making two or three successional lots. If the old plants are kept after 

 the cuttings are taken off and allowed to break, then shake them out 

 and repot them ; they will come in early in autumn, and keep in 

 bloom till the first lot of cuttings comes in. They do well in a mixture 

 of turfy loam, sand, and rotten cow-manure, with a little charcoal. 

 The pots should be well drained, as they like plenty of water, but it 

 must pass freely through the pots. They also delight in frequent 

 syringings overhead. We grow very few varieties, having selected 

 those which we have found good both in giving a supply to cut from 

 and for decorative purposes. There may be many as beautiful, but 

 the undermentioned we have proved and can recommend. Weltoniensis 

 is the best, we think, being a free flowerer, growing dwarf and compact. 

 Insignis flowers more at the points; large white flowers. Degwelliensis, 

 free flowerer, and makes fine little specimens in small pots. Subpeltata 

 nigropunctata is a splendid thing ; Pearcei worth a place ; Sedeni, a 

 new one, and first class, which should be in every collection. 



HEATHS. 



The soft-wooded varieties of the above rank high as winter and spring 

 blooming plants, and their being almost hardy makes them more valu- 

 able. From necessity we had a quantity which stood all last winter in 

 cold frames, where there was no artificial heat. Through all the severest 

 of the frost the covers were never ofi", and several times, when the glass 

 was falling very low, snow was collected, and laid all over to the depth of 



