iSyi.] AUTUMN AND WINTER PLANTS. 453 



blooms of so many different sLacles of colour enliven the cut-fiower 

 basket through November and December. 



The early-flowering section of the greenhouse varieties we treat much 

 in the same way : after the wood has been well ripened in the spring, 

 cut them pretty closely in ; when the young shoots are all fairly broken, 

 shake them out and reduce the roots, and repot into smaller pots in a 

 rather free compost, placing them where they can be kept close for a 

 few days, until they take with the pots. In a very short time the roots 

 will have found their way to the side of the pot, when they should be 

 repotted into their blooming-pots, using a little stronger compost this 

 time, and making it rather firm. They can stand in cold frames, for a 

 short time in summer, close to the glass. With proper attention, by 

 autumn fine stiff plants will be the result. If a few of the forward- 

 est are taken into a gentle heat, about 55^ at night, they soon begin 

 to show flowers ; and if kept in this temperature, they give a fine 

 quantity of bloom by cutting each head as they begin to open. Liquid 

 manure should be given often, but not strong. 



GESXERAS. 



The value of the Gesnera as a decorative plant can scarcely be over- 

 estimated. Most of them have rich velvety foliage. If grown for their 

 foliage alone, they are very attractive, but during autumn and early 

 winter they produce splendid spikes of blossoms, which are very hand- 

 some. They do well in a compost of peat and fibry loam, with a little 

 cow-dung sifted through a J -inch -sieve, with a sprinkling of silver- 

 sand. 



In starting them in spring, place one of the largest bulbs in the 

 centre of a 3-inch pot, which has been previously well drained. Cover 

 the bulb about its own thickness with the compost, and place them in 

 a close pit. If a little bottom-heat can be given them until they make 

 signs of starting, so much the better. Although they can be grown 

 without this, still, if it can be had, it starts them quicker and stronger. 

 When the pots are fuU of roots, let the best be shifted on into 6-inch 

 pots. Single plants are fine for the dinnci-table. When potted, let 

 them be placed in a stove where they can have plenty of atmospheric 

 moisture, but not too much water overhead, as the sun, if not kept 

 shaded, soon browns the foliage very much. (We have seen fine pans of 

 the smaller bulbs planted like Achimenes.) Here let them grow, and 

 when the pots are full of roots, a little manure-water, every other water- 

 ing, will be found beneficial to them. We find some of the newer sorts 

 are very early-flowering, having had them in bloom for the last month, 

 and will have them now up to Christmas, if not later. A. H. 



Thoresby. 



