THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 43 



heat, where your thermometer is ranging from fifty to fifty-five 

 degrees. 



Care must be taken in watering them, not to supply it too 

 bountifully at their roots until they are in a more forward state of 

 growth ; but on clear bright sunny days, syringe frequently over 

 their heads with water of the same temperature as the atmosphere 

 of the house they are growing in. This will soften the bark, and 

 cause them to bring forth the young shoots with more vigour. 



As soon as the young shoots have obtained the length of three 

 joints, pinch out the tops ; this will cause them to break back, and 

 be the means of furnishing your plant with foliage well down to the 

 pot. "When they have again broken, if all goes well, they will 

 require a careful examination of their roots, and repotting into larger 

 pots, using the same compost as before (not forgetting the charcoal 

 drainage). When done, place them again into moderate heat, where 

 they should remain until they have filled the pots with roots. "When 

 this is ascertained to be the case, remove them into a cooler house, 

 or lower the temperature gradually of the present one, when they will 

 shortly begin to show their bloom. If early-blooming plants are 

 required, allow the bloom to remain ; if not, pinch out the tops again, 

 and this will cause them to throw out another course of vigorous 

 shoots ; and when these are grown an inch long, the plants may be 

 shifted once more, as final. But, should very large plants be the 

 principal object of the grower, they can be shifted again as they 

 advance in growth, and at this season may be supplied with seme 

 stimulant in the shape of manure-water about twice a week; be 

 cautious not to give it to them over-strong ; rather supply it more 

 frequently, and at a moderate strength, as it often injures their roots., 

 and reduces them to a delicate and unhealthy state, when disappoint- 

 ment and often a total failure is the result. The most direct and 

 safest plan to procure a supply of liquid manure is — to brew your 

 own, by adding half a bushel of cow-dung to eight gallons of soft 

 water, allowing it to stand twenty-four hours before using. 



If the cow-dung should be fresh, the liquid will require diluting 

 with an equal quantity of clean water; but if decomposed, it will 

 not require reducing in strength, and may be used as made by 

 straining it through coarse canvas or other material, for, without 

 some such precaution, it will be found to close the pores of the soil, 

 and the plants will become stagnant and unhealthy ; but when 

 judiciously applied, it amazingly improves the growth and assists the 

 plants in throwing out and retaining their blossoms and foliage both 

 strong and robust. It is at this period the charcoal discharges its 

 important duties : being of a porous quality, it absorbs themauure- 

 water when given, and holding it, supplies the plants as their nature 

 may require. B. Y. 



February. 



