310 ON THE CULTUEE OF LISIANTIIUS EUSELLIANTS. 



When the young shoots are sufficiently advanced, I stop them 

 immediately above the second joint ; each shoot will then pro- 

 duce four ; they require stopping about three times. The last 

 stopping for plants required to bloom early should take place in 

 the first week, in June, and for plants required to bloom later in 

 the first week in July. As they advance in growth the branches 

 will require to be tied out with sticks, to make round and well- 

 formed plants. 



When the plants are growing freely, they are sometimes at- 

 tacked with a disease at the base, which is produced by the moist 

 and confined atmosphere that is required for their fine growth. 

 To prevent this I allow the surface to become quite dry once a 

 week, during which the plants are supplied with moisture from 

 feeders or pans in which the pots are placed for a few hours, 

 being careful not to allow any stagnant water to remain about 

 them. As soon as the blooms begin to expand, I keep a drier 

 atmosphere, and expose them to more air and light, which much 

 improves their colour. 



As to the result of the above practice, I may mention, in con- 

 clusion, that I grew some seedling plants in 1844, one of which 

 I exhibited at the Horticultural Society's Garden in July, 1845, 

 which was awarded a silver Knightian medal, accompanied with 

 this note by the judges : — " Had this been exhibited in its proper 

 place, it would have received a higher medal." In July, 1846, 

 a second plant received a large silver medal ; and to a third the 

 same award was made in July, 1847. Another plant was also 

 shown in tlie same year at the Royal Botanic Society's Garden, 

 Regent's Park, and was awarded the first prize as a single speci- 

 men of superior cultivation. The plant that I exhibited at tlie 

 Horticultural Society in July, 1847, had five hundred blooms 

 expanded at once, ten days after the exhibition. 



