162 THE GARDENER. [April 



potted into pots a little larger than the balls of the plants, filling all 

 round with good rich soil. Care should be taken not to break the ball, 

 nor to injure the roots. After being potted, place them in a pit or 

 frame, where they can be kept close for ten days ; give a good watering 

 to settle the soil, and a syringe overhead for a few days, after which 

 they should have plenty of air. When a succession of flowers is 

 wanted, a few may be placed in a temperature of G0°, w^hich will soon 

 start them into bloom. Watering with weak manure-water makes them 

 send up fine strong spikes. When a quantity of spikes are fairly up 

 and beginning to open, transfer them to the conservatory, where they 

 will stand a long time in bloom ; and if strong healthy i^lants, they will 

 send up several successional crops of spikes. Those that were left in 

 the cold frame will succeed those forced into bloom very w^ell if not 

 allowed to get below 45° at night. We have about twelve large plants 

 in 11-inch pots, on which at one time this autumn we counted sixteen 

 fine spikes, and many more making their appearance : since the 

 middle of December they have been standing under a stage of a 

 Geranium-house, and on looking at them the other day w^e found them 

 showing signs of beginning to flower again ; we shall induce them to 

 do so, by placing them in a vinery just starting. When done flower- 

 ing, and about May, they will be taken out of their pots and divided, 

 each pot into two, and planted out and treated as above. 



The Helloirope. — This is another indispensable plant for cutting from 

 in winter, and we prefer Standards, for, when fairly established, they 

 require no tying : on stem.s 30 inches high, and with heads 4 feet 

 through, they have a fine effect. When Standards are to be grown, 

 good free-growing spring cuttings should be selected and shifted on as 

 necessary, never pinching the leader until it has got to the required 

 height, but pinching all the side-shoots as they make their appearance, 

 leaving the leaf attached to the stem. About the end of May give 

 them their last shift for the season, unless they are wanted large in 

 a short time. Before plunging them out of doors, put a good strong 

 stake to each to secure them against high winds, care being taken 

 never to let them suffer for want of water : weak manure-waterings 

 throughout the summer are beneficial to them, and all flowers should be 

 picked off as they make their appearance until September, when they 

 should be lifted and top-dressed ; and put into a temperature of 60"", 

 they will flower for a long time. We have several here in 14-inch 

 pots which have had nothing done to them for some years, unless an 

 occasional surface-dressing. When taken from the open ground they are 

 either put into the early vinery or Peach-house, as we find space for 

 them : here they stand all winter, giving plenty of flowers. When 

 hardened off and danger from frost is over, they are cut hard back 

 and plunged out of doors again. 



