1871.] CULTURAL HINTS ON ALLAMANDAS. 503 



manure. These ingredients, well incorporated, form an excellent compost for 

 this and all the subsequent pottings required. Pots from 3 to 4 inches diameter 

 should be used in the first instance ; these will afford ample room for the bulbs 

 and roots without breaking. Allow plenty of broken pots, to secure ready drain- 

 age, and pot with the finer parts of the soil. After potting, return the plants to 

 heat again, and water sufficiently to moisten the whole soil. Shade, and maintain 

 heat and moisture about the plants to accelerate growth. Pinch out the centre of 

 each plant at the first indication of active growth, so that laterals may be obtained ; 

 and those laterals, when long enough, should be trained separately into uniform 

 distances, to make a nice foundation for specimens, or indeed for climbing pur- 

 poses as well. Pots two sizes larger should be supplied on every occasion of 

 shifting, while the crocks ought also to be covered by the turfy lumps of the 

 compost to keep the drainage clear. Continue by those means to keep the 

 plants in active growth, syringing overhead mornings and evenings in hot, dry 

 weather, along with abundance of air. Pinch again when the first set of growths 

 have produced laterals 6 inches long, and allow all the other succeeding growths 

 to grow without pinching — all the attendance necessary after this being com- 

 prised in training the growths neatly as they make progress, and affording larger 

 shifts when the condition of the roots demand such. Flowers may sparingly 

 appear on some of the points as they ripen, but those, as a rule, are few in number 

 at this stage of growth — the next set of wood produced the following summer 

 being the flower-producing portion of the wood. 



Passing onwards to September, we will find, should all have prospered, ' the 

 plants mostly occupying 10-inch pots, with splendid heads of wood and foliage. 

 At the same time indications of exhaustion will be exhibited, the plants are ap- 

 proaching ripeness, and will require to be cautiously dealt with, to preserve the 

 roots and harden the wood, by in a great measure withholding water until the 

 succeeding February, when preparations for fresh growth ought to be attended to. 

 Meantime stand the plants in a dry airy place in the stove, where no opportunity 

 is afforded for them rooting beyond the pots. Wintered in this manner, 

 with only enough of water given to keep the foliage from flagging, they will be in 

 admirable condition to suit the desired end. 



Early in February turn out tlieir balls and reduce the same, taking care to 

 preserve all the fresh roots while separating as many as possible. Repot into 

 pots of 12 inches diameter, and while in the act of potting, press the compost 

 unusually firm about the roots. Then supply tepid water copiously, so that the 

 soil is thoroughly penetrated. Plunge for some time following this in smart 

 bottom-heat, that fresh roots and growth may be produced, after which the 

 plants may occupy a place on the stage fully exposed to the sun. Tie in the 

 shoots as they advance, with an eye to harmony and neatness of plant. And in 

 the course of summer these shoots will furnish bloom, and continue to keep up 

 a succession on some of the varieties to the end of October following. Finally, 

 when it is fully ascertained that flowers are in formation, add to their water a 

 small portion of guano. Xever once allow the plants to get dry at the roots, nor 

 permit shade to affect the plants, else the flowers will droop half developed. 

 Either strong shade or insufficiency of water at this period or stage is sure to 

 have that effect. As the winter again approaches, manage as recommended for 

 the winter preceding, — and so on. A. Kerb. 



