1871.] AUTUMN AND WINTER PLANTS. 263 



ling a little soot over all will be beneficial in keeping worms from 

 getting into the pots. This should be done at all the shif tings into 

 larger pots. 



The soil should be rather free, and passed through a half-inch sieve. 

 When sown in pots at first, they should be nearly filled, the soil 

 gently pressed down, and a few seeds placed in the centre of each, 

 covering them over with soil to about the thickness of the seed. Give 

 a good watering, and place the pots near the glass in a temperature 

 of 60'' j if the surfaces of the pots are shaded until the plants make 

 their appearance, so much the better, as I find the fewer waterings 

 Mignonette gets at this stage the better ; it thrives and grows stronger 

 afterwards. 



As soon as the plants are large enough to show which is the strong 

 est, all the others are taken away, putting a small stick to the one 

 left : to this it is tied as it grows, in order to keep it from breaking 

 at the neck, which they are very liable to do. W^hen about 6 inches 

 high it will require another shift into a 6-inch pot, observing the 

 same care as before in regard to drainage : the soil should be only 

 chopped with a little leaf-mould, a good sprinkling of sand and a 

 little soot should be added, and the whole well mixed together. 



We find 11 -inch pots large enough for either trees or pyramids. 

 If trees are wanted, the leading stem should not be stopped until it 

 has reached the height required, and then the six top side-shoots will 

 be found enough to make a fine head, if properly attended to in 

 regard to pinching and tying down to a small trellis made of wire, the 

 shape of an umbrella. In pinching out the side shoots a pair of 

 Grape scissors will be found the best, as they do not injure the leaf 

 attached to the stem, which must be taken great care of all through. 

 By growing in a temperature of 60"^ near the glass, giving manure- 

 water twice a-week after they have filled the pots with roots, with 

 daily syringings overhead, they will by the month of November 

 amply repay all the labour bestowed upon them. Other two sowings 

 at intervals of a month between will keep up a supply of plants 

 in flower until it can be had out of doors. The same treatment 

 applies to pyramids, only none of the side-shoots must be pinched 

 away. 



HYACINTHS, NARCISSUS, AND TULIPS. 



I class these altogether, as the in-treatment is much alike. To have 

 them early, the bulbs should be potted as soon as possible in light rich 

 loam, with a little sand and cow-dung which has been lying in a heap for 

 some time, all well mixed together. Before potting, it is advisable to 

 sprinkle a little soot over the drainage, which helps to keep worms at 

 bay, as they are very apt to get into the pots when covered up. 



u 



