THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 325 



and then let them remain without water for some considerable time ; 

 they do not yet require frequent waterings. 



Keep a watchful eye on them as they advance, that they do not 

 get infested with the green-fly, to which they are liable ; and if any 

 of these troublesome insects appear, take the plants- out of the frame 

 or pit, and give them, singly, a good syringing with tobacco-water, 

 holding the syringe over the central bud, that the tobacco-water may 

 penetrate among the bases of the young leaves, where they are apt 

 to suffer most from the attacks of the aphides. About two hours 

 afterwards they must be syringed again with clean water, to wash 

 the stain of the tobacco-water off them. 



By the latter end of March, or early in April, if the season is a 

 favourable one, they will begin to grow vigorously ; they will then 

 require a greater quantity of water, and may be watered overhead, 

 or syringed every genial or mild morning. They must now also 

 have an abundant supply of fresh air. If they are in a frame, it 

 will be a good plan to raise it from the ground by putting a brick 

 under each corner, by which they will get plenty of bottom air ; 

 but the frame must be let down again if the weather should turn out 

 frosty, or a cutting north-east wind should prevail, as is sometimes 

 the case. About the latter end of May they will require turfing up ; 

 that is, a square box of fibrous peat should be built up above the 

 pot rim, and pegged together so as to inclose the base of the stems. 

 This must be filled up with the same kind of compost as that in 

 which they were potted, only made finer and more sandy ; they will 

 root into this soil, which will assist them very much. The plants 

 must be tied up to the form required, and put into the greenhouse, 

 if the frame is not deep enough to hold them ; they should be raised 

 up near to the glass, that they may not draw, which they are very 

 apt to do when growing freely. Continue the syringing every 

 morning when circumstances are favourable, as they are particularly 

 fond of a shower bath. 



After they become pot-bound, which will be the case some time 

 in June, water regularly with soot- water, which gives them a very 

 healthy dark green colour. This soot-water is made by putting 

 three pecks of soot to eighteen gallons of water, which will be quite 

 strong enough ; stir it well up together, and after it has settled skim 

 off the top, and it is then fit for use. Continue watering with this 

 soot-water until they show signs of flowering. When the flower- 

 buds appear, they may either be kept back or hastened ; the latter 

 by placing them into the stove, for they do not draw up after they 

 have reached this stage of their development, and will bear a very 

 high temperature if freely watered and syringed. Where there is, 

 say, a dozen plants, it is advisable to push on some of them in the 

 -stove, and to keep the others in a cool, shady place, so as to make a 

 succession. After they have done flowering, turn them out of doors 

 and expose them fully to the sun, that they may ripen well. In 

 case of heavy rains, the pots should be turned on their sides, so as 

 to keep the bulbs somewhat dry, and, to the same end, diminish the 

 watering gradually, until they become quite dry. Then cut off the 

 etems, and store the pots away in some dry place out of doors until 



November. 



