54: THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
A NEW WAY OF GROWING ACHIMENES. 
BY WILLIAM JOHNSON. 
*§O well known are Achimenes for their attractiveness 
when well grown in the form of bush specimens, that 
a8 it is not, perhaps, necessary to touch upon that style 
INES of training; but of late I have been experimenting 
——— with them, and, amongst other things, have proved 
conclusively that they possess a very high degree of value as basket 
plants. They make such a grand display when grown in baskets, 
and are so much admired by visitors, that I am quite sure the 
readers of the Ftorat Wortp, who follow my advice, and fill a few 
baskets with them, will not regret having done so. The baskets are 
not required to be large—indeed, baskets of medium size are the 
most suitable. To properly fill these a rather large number of roots 
will be required, and I should not recommend those who have to 
purchase roots to grow them in baskets until they have increased 
the stock by pot culture. But those who have a large number of 
roots at hand, and have no occasion to incur any extra expense in 
the matter, may devote some part of their attention to the produc- 
tion of basket specimens with the full assurance of engaging in a 
very pleasurable task. 
The baskets should be deep in proportion to their diameter, and 
it is a matter of no importance whether they are made quite plain or 
highly ornamental, for by the time the plants will be in bloom—and 
until that time they should not be placed in the conservatory—the 
baskets will be completely enveloped with the foliage and flowers. 
The Achimenes must not be put into the baskets until they have 
made a growth of two or three inches, for to form large masses, 
and cover the under side as well as the surface of the basket, 
a portion of the shoots must be so arranged as to come through the 
sides of the baskets; and if the roots are planted before starting, 
the whole of the growth will rise to the surface. My practice has 
been attended with much success, and I prepare a number of small 
sixties, by filling them to within about three-quarters of an inch of 
the rim with light and rich soil, and on the surface of this the roots 
are laid at the rate of three to each pot. A covering of soil of a 
similar character is then applied, and they are then removed to a 
pit or house suitable for starting them. Until they have grown 
sufficiently to be put into the baskets, they require precisely the 
same warmth and attention as those intended for pot culture. As 
these remarks, for the reason given above, are not intended for 
those who are quite unacquainted with these flowers, it is not needful 
to enter into the details. 
Prepare the baskets by placing over the bottom a good layer of 
suitable moss, and fill in a few inches of the prepared soil, then take 
the Achimenes, turn them out of the pots, and lay them round the 
sides of the basket, at a distance of about four inches apart. They 
must be so placed that the shoots project through the sides of the 
basket, and as far as possible the surface of the ball of soil should 
