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FOREIGN NOTIJKS. 



to bloom, and nil those of a straggling habit should be cut back directly after, while those of 

 more dwarf lialiit may incroly liavo the extreme ]>oint3 pinched off some of them as soon as 

 they can be caught pooping through the flowers; others may be pinched back on the top only, 

 to ollow weak side shoots to acquire strength before tlio leading ones break. Tlio plan of morel y 

 taking out the point as it peeps through the flowers will be found useful in regard to some of 

 the late blooming kinds ; for by the time the flowers fade, the plant will be found to have broken 

 a crop of buds just behind them. Some of the earliest stopped jihints will piobably rerjuird 

 another stopping by the middle of July, while others will be found breaking freely of their own 

 accord. Those that require it had better be stopped ; and as they grow, the shoots must be 

 carefully regulated bj' drawing them out with fine matting, and perhaps a fine stick or two. — 

 Some of the free growing kinds may be shifted again about the same time, if rapid progress is 

 required; but as a rule I do not think it advisable to do so, for very quicklj' grown plants are 

 mostly short-lived. I prefer placing the jjlaiits on inverted pots or pans, and in hot weather 

 keeping the bottom of the jnt moist, so as to maintain a healthy atmosphere round them. If 



the plants are much exposed to the sun 

 the front of the pot must be shaded, and 

 any of them that do not shade the soil in 

 the pot had better have a few pieces of 

 crock placed on its surface. 



In wet weather the lights should be 

 kept over the plants, but they must either 

 be propped u]i by pots at the corners, or 

 tilted by placing a block or jiot under one 

 edge. Ileafhs will take a great deal of 

 water if properly treated; for instance, 

 if a plant is allowed to get quite dry and 

 is then well watered, the pot being filled 

 up two 01' three times, it will absorb more 

 moisture than one that is watered a little 

 every day, and the soil will keep sweeter; 

 care must, however, be taken not to let 

 them get so dry as to make their very 

 delicate roots shrivel. 



As the winter draws on, if there is no 

 proper house for them, with a little care 

 they will winter very well in pits ;* if by 

 chance they should get fi-ozen hard, if 

 they are allowed to stand in the dark, 

 they will take no harm; and if the weatliei- 

 should be damp and close, a few lumps of 

 lime placed here and there between them 

 will tend to keep them free from mildew, 

 which, however, should be carefully 

 watched for at all seasons, and as soon a^^ 

 it is perceived the parts must be dust, d 

 with black sulphur. By following the 

 same course of treatment the next year 

 some verj' nice specimen plants may be grown, and by persevering with them they will become 

 noble plants, like the fine specimen rej^resented by the accompanj-ing woodcut. — /. B., in Florist. 



* It would not be safe to rely on cold pits In this country, in the north ; for in order to avoid the consequences of 

 severe frost, they would have to be totally excluded from the light for weeks at a time. The best place is a cold 

 greenhouse, where heat can be applied if necessary.— Ed. IIort, 



ERICA CAVESDISUL 



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