408 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



by autumn they will liave formed fine large crowns. Let them be lifted 

 as soon as they have dropped all the leaves, taking care to injure the 

 roots as little as possible, putting each clump into a pot a little larger 

 than the ball, so as to get a layer of fresh loam round them, to 

 induce fresh root-action when started ; by so doing, we find they start 

 stronger and make better plants altogether than when the ball is 

 crammed into a small pot. They will stand in any cool place until 

 required for forcing. We generally start ours in the Mushroom-house, 

 looking over them daily to remove any that have fairly started to a 

 lighter place, with about the same heat, giving them frequent water- 

 ings with manure-water after they are in full leaf, also daily syring- 

 ing until taken to the conservatory, where they are generally much 

 admired. 



CARXATIOXS. 



Another grand class of plants for winter and spring work, when 

 there is any quantity of cut-fiower required, and for button-holes 

 throughout the year they prove invaluable. They should be struck 

 early in spring on a gentle hotbed, and grown on until the middle 

 of May, when they should be planted out on a piece of ground 

 which had previously been deeply trenched, adding plenty of rotten 

 manure w^ell mixed in the soil. They should be planted about 18 

 inches every way, to allow of attending to them in watering and keep- 

 ing clean. Let them be liberally supplied with water — an occasional 

 watering with weak manure-water would benefit them ; also ply the 

 syringe freely amongst them in hot weather. In September lift them 

 and put into 6 and 7 inch jDots, using good loam, a little dung, and a 

 sprinkling of sand. Shade them for a few days until they take with 

 the pots, when all the air possible should be given until cold weather 

 set in, when a little heat may be given ; but the less heat they can be 

 induced to flower in the better, as the flowers last longer, having more 

 substance, and are richer in colour. 



VERONICA IMPERIAL DWARF BLUE. 



This makes a very useful plant for early autumn and winter work, 

 being of such dwarf compact habit, when nice little bushes can be had 

 in 4 and 5 inch pots. It is good for a front line on a conservatory- 

 stage and to mix amongst other dwarf things, where it lasts a long 

 time. It strikes freely from cuttings in spring, treating it the 

 same as spring-struck Geraniums. When all danger from frost is 

 gone, plant it out in good soil, previously well pulverised — 1 foot 

 each way will be far enough apart. They will require little attention, 

 unless very dry weather sets in, when occasional waterings will be bene- 

 ficial to them. Lift them carefully about the end of September, put- 



