THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 309 
again. The flowers are delightfully fragrant, and are useful for 
cutting. 
Callas may be had in bloom early in the spring by starting well- 
established plants in January and February. Plants that were 
repotted in the spring and are now strong and vigorous, and have 
had a thorough rest, should be selected for forcing, as they are the 
most likely to produce flowers. Blcoms of the Callas are generally 
in great request for church decorations at Easter-tide, and when 
required for this purpose the plants should be started beforehand. 
Dielytra spectabilis is one of the easiest plants to force, but it is 
more often than not met with in a very unsatisfactory condition. 
The plants usually present a thin, drawn appearance, but this may 
be readily avoided. The crowns, like those of the astilbe, should be 
put into the smallest pots possible, but the plants, immediately they 
begin to move, must be placed near the glass to insure a firm, short- 
jointed growth, and when sufficiently advanced to require support 
each shoot must be secured to a neat stake. 
Deutzia gracilis, when well-flowered, is one of the most attractive 
plants we have, and is well deserving of all the attention necessary 
to have it in perfection. Neat bushes, well-furnished with short, 
stubby ‘shoots, are preferable for forcing, as they can always be 
depended upon for producing a satisfactory display of bloom. The 
plants should be lifted and potted early in the autumn, if grown 
in the open border ; and after they have received a liberal watering, 
to settle the soil abont the roots, place them in a cold pit, where 
they can remain until their removal to the forcing pit. A tempera- 
ture of about 65° is the most suitable for starting them, and they 
should be assisted to break strongly by being syringed overhead 
once or twice a day. They must also receive moderately liberal 
supplies of water at the roots, after they have commenced to grow 
freely. Plants may be started soon after Christmas, but those who 
have not had some experience should defer starting them until the 
end of January. After the beauty of the flowers is past, gradually 
harden off the plants, and then either repot or plant them out in an 
open position in the kitchen garden. ‘This is necessary to afford 
them an opportunity of making new growth, and becoming well- 
furnished with flower-buds by the autumn. 
Lily of the Valley is so exceedingly beautiful, and usually held 
in such high estimation, that it should be forced in rather large 
quantities. It is one of the easiest of all the hardy plants to have 
in bloom during the winter and spring months, and if the crowns 
are strong and well ripened they may be depended upon to produce 
a plentiful supply of flowers. Asin the case of the astilbe, clumps 
specially prepared for forcing are imported largely, and with these 
there is not much risk of the amateur going wrong. Single crowns 
are also imported and sold by the dozea and hundred, but for 
ordinary purposes the prepared clumps are the best. They should 
be obtained and potted early in October, and after the potting is 
completed place them upon a bed of coal ashes out-of-doors, and 
have coal ashes, cocoa-nut fibre refuse, or dry leaves heaped over 
them to a sufficient depth to prevent the frost reaching the soil. 
October. 
