128 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
base of the plants to within a proper distance of the surface, but that course is not 
desirable, for they do not appear to such advantage as when the vessels are quite 
full. The flowers are pure white, with black anthers, and are very fragrant ; they, 
in common with the leaves, float upon the surface of the water. 
Myrries.— Miss F.—The myrtles that have become thin for some distance above 
the surface of the soil should be pruned hard back to promote a new growth from 
the lower part of the plants. Even the oldest shoots will break freely and produce 
strong shoots, and if the new growth is thinned out where over-crowded, and any 
shoots that may be growing more vigorously than the principal portion stopped as 
may appear desirable, the plants will soon attain a lurge size, and be densely 
furnished with healthy growth nearly to the rim of the pot. The shoots should, as 
a tule, bepruned to within about six inches of the surface of the soil, and when this 
has been done, place them, if convenient, in a cucumber pit, or wherever they can 
be kept rather close, moist, and warm, to encourage them to break freely. Until 
the new shoots are half an inch or so in length, they must have very little water 
at the roots; the soil, in fact, to be kept just moistandnomore. But when reaching 
this stage, turn them out of the pots and reduce the ball of soil sufficiently to allow 
of their being put into pots two sizes smaller than those previously occupied. When 
this has been done they must be placed in a frame and kept close and shaded, and 
be syringed overhead occasionally, to-assist them to become established quickly. 
Myrtles will break freely when standing in the greenhouse, or in an ordinary pit, but 
by placing them in warmth they start into growth sooner, and attain @ considerable 
size by the autumn. Plants that are simply out of shape through a portion of the 
branches being larger than the others, may soon be set right by pruning the 
projecting branches back sufficiently to give the plants an uniform appearance. 
If a strong growth proceeds from these, it will be an easy matter to check it with 
the finger and thumb. Few shrubs bear the knife better than the myrtles, and no 
season of the year is more favourable for praning them than that embraced by the 
months of March and April. 
Cytissus.— B.S —If you are desirous of keeping the plants for flowering next 
year, prune them moderately as soon as the beauty of the flowers is passed, and 
when they commence to break freely shift them into pots one size larger, and early 
in June place them out-of-doors for the summer, and supply liberally with water. 
A rather shady position is the most suitable, provided they are not placed under 
trees. A mixture of turfy loam, leaf-mould, and silver sand will form un excellent 
compost. Peat is sometimes recommended for these plants, but they do better 
without it. 
AsritnE Japontca.— Young Gardener.—This useful decorative plant, which is 
known also as Astilhe barbata, Spirea japonica, and Hoteia japonica, may be 
cultivated as successfully in this country as in Holland, from whence the market 
growers and the trade generally obtain their annual supplies of crowns for forcing. 
The trade in all probability finds it as advantageous to import the crowns as to grow 
them at home, but there is no great reason why you should not preserve the plants 
you have for flowering next year. The stock may indeed be increased considerably 
if it is so desired. The plants must not be removed directly from the conservatory 
to the open air, as the change would be too much for them, and they would suffer 
in consequence. Therefore, when they no longer contribute to the beauty of the 
conservatury remove them to a cold frame and supply liberally with water. About 
the middle or the end of May, plant them out on a piece of ground that has been 
deeply stirred and has received a moderate dressing of manure ; and put the plants 
about fifteen inches apart one way and thirty inches the other, Until they become 
established water them freely, and throughout the season keep the bed clear of 
weeds. If it is desired to increase the stock, divide each plant into two portions 
before planting, and injure the roots as little as possible. By the autumn the plants 
will have become well developed, and you will have a good supply of strong crowns 
for forcing. It will be of little use to plant them in poor soil and leave them during 
the summer to practically take care of themselves, for they will not acquire 
sufficient strength to bloom satisfactorily. 
