IRISH GARDENING. 



Greenhouse Calceolarias, 



This ^enus of Slipperworts belongs to the order 

 Sci'ophularineae, and is divided into two sections, 

 the herbaceous or large-flowered florists' varieties 

 and the shrubby kinds. 



In recent yeax's Herbaceous Calceolarias have 

 ))een l)rought to such a high state of perfection 

 by hylnidising the finest strains that each year 

 tliey improve in size and vigour ; a good batch 

 of well-grown plants staged for effect is a sight 

 not soon forgotten. 



They are easily grown in a cool house, but it 

 must be understood from the first that no plants 

 resent extreme conditions of temperature more 

 than they do or are so susceptible to a dry 

 parched atmosphere. 



Seed is best sown as soon as ripe about the end 

 of .May or in June if large plants are required, 

 to be followed by a sowing in July : sow in pans, 

 the soil to consist of good fibry loam, leaf soil and 

 sand rubbed through a small meshed sieve. 

 Having got ready the seed pans put some rough 

 loam or leaves over the crocks, press the soil 

 fairly firm, making the surface smooth and 

 slightly convex, afterwards well water, and leave 

 to drain, ready for sowing. The seed, being so very 

 small, will require very careful handling, as it is 

 likely to be blown abovit ; sow evenly and very 

 thinly, and cover the seed as lightly as possible 

 with fine soil or sand, place in a close unheated 

 frame, and keep well shaded. If it is found 

 necessary to raise the seed in a grognhouse or 

 vinery, the pans should be covered with a sheet 

 of glass, over which spread a piece of paper, and 

 if in a dry position a coveinng over the glass of 

 damp moss instead of paper will check rapid 

 evapoi'ation. 



The seeds quickly germinate in a close, moist 

 atmosphere ; it generally takes about seven to 

 ten days before the young seedlings appear 

 t hrovigh the soil : and as soon as they do so the glass 

 should be removed and attention given to prevent 

 them getting dry ; keep them shaded, and if water 

 is required it is best done by soaking the pans 

 in tepid water. As soon as they have made their 

 second leaf they should be pricked ofT into pans 

 or boxes three inches apart. Great care should 

 be taken in lifting them from the seed pans, but 

 if they have not been sown too thickly, and with 

 the aid of a label, they can be transferred without 

 injury. Contrary to most seedlings, when as a 

 rule only the strongest are saved and the weakest 

 thrown away, it will be found with Calceolarias 

 that the strongest and most robust growing 

 seedlings will produce a large percentage of 

 yellows, so that it is essential if you wish to 

 retain the most delicate and brightest hues you 

 must save the weakly growers which, when once 

 started into full growth, will gain in constitution. 

 Grow in a similar position as before, and on all 

 occasions shade from direct sunshine and sprinkle 

 overhead with rain-water occasionally : if the 

 soil, turns at all green or hard, stir the surface 

 between the jjlants very lightly with a pointed 

 label. When the plants have made about four 

 or five leaves they should be potted ofi' into sixty 

 size pots, using a similar but slightly coarser 

 compost than for sowing ; well crock the pots, 

 atid transfer the small plants with great care, 

 with as much soil to the roots as possible. After 

 potting, Avater carefully and place in a cool 



frame, one situated under a north wall with a 

 good bottom of ashes is now an ideal place for 

 growing them on. Always give plenty of ventila- 

 tion on suitable days, taking care that they do 

 not suffer from cold draughts, as any check is 

 sure to bring on attacks of greenfly. Calceolarias 

 are particularly liable to the ravages of aphis, 

 and should be fumigated as soon as noticed with 

 an approved fumigant ; if left to get very badly 

 infested, and then fumigated, the deposit caused 

 by the dead aphis will cause damping of the 

 foliage, so that fumigating at regular intervals 

 will be found best. An occasional syringing 

 with Quassia Extract, getting the spraying well 

 under the leaves, will be found very distasteful 

 to insect pests, and a good preventive. 



By August the plants should be ready for 

 potting into 6-inch pots ; growth is very rapid 

 now, and they should be pinched evenly all over 

 to produce nice bushy plants, and if large plants 

 are desired another shift will soon be necessary 

 into 8-inch or 10-inch pots. 



For the final potting the compost sliould 

 consist of two parts good fibry loam roughly 

 pulled to pieces with the fingers, one part mellow 

 leaf soil rubbed through a |-inch sieve and one 

 part old mushroom manure, with the addition 

 of a (j-inch pot of soot and a little coarse sand 

 to the barrowful. Pot firmly, but not hard, 

 into clean pots, and continue to grow in frames, 

 under a north wall, where very little shading 

 will be required, and on mild nights the lights 

 can be entirely removed from over them, leaving 

 the plants open to the night dews, which will 

 induce short stocky growth. This treatment 

 will also do away with the necessity of syringing 

 the plants. 



Towards October, when the cold nights set in. 

 it will be best to remove them to a cool greenhouse, 

 I'eady for wintering, with a temperature of about 

 45° to 50 . Place the plants on a shelf or stage 

 where they can get plenty of light and air, and 

 still keep them shaded from the strong sun. 

 During the winter they require very careful 

 watering, and wIkmi growth commences early 

 in March, weak li(juid manure, twice a week, is 

 a fine stimulant. If a batch of plants are now 

 potted on and again pinched before the flower 

 spikes show, they will make large specimen, and 

 also be useful for succession to prolong the 

 flowering period. 



Stake all plants neatly that show bloom, 

 leaving the stakes sufficiently long for the full 

 growth of the flower stem, and discontinue 

 feeding when the blooms show colour, but when 

 in bloom give only soft water. 



Calceolaria profusa and the hybrids Veitchii 

 and Bronze Age are of true perennial habit, and 

 bear their flowers in tall, graceful sprays, 2 feet 

 to 3 feet high, are easily raised and grown from 

 seed or cuttings : they bear the same relation 

 to the large-flowered varieties as the Star 

 Cineraria does to Florists Cineraria, and old 

 plants potted on make magniflcent specimens for 

 greenhouse decoration. 



The more recent hybrids between profusa and 

 the large -flowered Calceolaria are a decided 

 acquisition in these lovely and showy plants. 



C. Kellyana and C. violacea are also varieties 

 of easy culture, and cuttings struck in autumn 

 will bloom well the following summer in a cool 

 greenhouse. 



W. H. Lek. 



