ON THE CULTURE OF LISIANTHUS RUSSELLIANUS. 309 



well managed, I will give my plan, which is as follows : — I sow 

 early in spring; I first fill a six-inch pot half full of potsherds, 

 over which I place one inch of sphagnum moss ; I then fill the 

 pot within one inch of the top with rich light sandy soil. When 

 all is pressed down equal and firm, and a smooth surface made 

 M'ith the bottom of a small pot, I sow the seed, and cover it very 

 sliglitly witli dry white sand. I cover the pots with bell-glasses, 

 and place them on a shelf in a shady part of an early vinery 

 keeping the surface constantly moist by pouring water on the 

 outside of the glasses. As soon as the plants have come uf), air 

 is admitted, and increased as they advance in growth. When 

 sufficiently strong they are pricked out into small pots, having- 

 the same drainage, moss, and mixture as the seed-pots, and are 

 again shaded with hand or bell glasses until the plants become 

 established. In three weeks or a month they require to be potted 

 off singly into small pots ; and I encourage their growth as much 

 as possible by placing them in a shady part of either a vinery or 

 melon-pit, whichever is kept at the highest temperature, m ith a 

 humid atmosphere. As soon as they begin to fill their pots with 

 roots, I give them once a week a little clarified manure water. 



I repot into winter pots about the middle of August, using 

 pots to suit the size of the plants, and replacing them in the 

 same growing temperature as before, till their pots are filled with 

 roots. After this I begin to prepare them for winter by givino- 

 them less moisture, more air, and a cooler temperature ; and 

 finally they are placed on a shelf near the glass, in the coolest 

 part of the stove, and wintered rather dry. Early in February 

 I begin to increase the heat and moisture ; and as soon as they 

 begin to grow freely, I repot them, which is generally about the 

 second week in March. They receive another shift in April, 

 and those that are intended for large specimens a third in May 

 (using 18 or 20 inch pots), and a mixture consisting of equal 

 quantities of good strong maiden loam, peat or bog mould, burnt 

 clay, leaf mould, and cow manure, with a little white sand. 

 These materials are well mixed together, and if dry are moistened 

 to prevent their running too close in the pots. In potting I use 

 a large quantity of drainage, and plenty of rubble stones, small 

 potsherds, and coarse river sand amongst the mixture. I make 

 the mixture just firm, but am very careful to leave it quite 

 porous. I give very little water till the roots reach the sides of 

 the pots : it is increased as the plants and the season advance, 

 giving heat and moisture in proportion. Too much stress cannot 

 be put upon making a proper mechanical arrangement of rich, 

 porous, and well-drained soils, which are essential for the healthy 

 development of plants of the nature of the Lisianthus. 



