164 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



close for a week or so, and wten it is found that the roots are run- 

 ning freely round the sides of the pot increase the supply of water, 

 and immediately there are sufficient roots to hold the ball of soil 

 firmly together, shift into pots five inches in diameter. It may be 

 proper to add that the pots, whilst in the frame, should be stood 

 upon boards or coal ashes, to prevent the worms entering the pots ; 

 and as the cinerarias delight in a cool and rather moist atmosphere 

 during the summer, a canful of water may be poured over the floor 

 occasionally with advantage to them. If the pit is in a sunny posi- 

 tion, the plants must be shaded in bright weather. 



After the shift into fi.ve-inch pots, the season will have so far 

 advanced as to render a cool, airy house, or a roomy pit, more de- 

 sirable quarters for the stock. During the winter, sufficient artificial 

 heat must be employed to keep out the frost and to dry up super- 

 fluous moisture, and no more ; and during a sharp frost, the lights 

 should be covered with mats, so that it may not be necessary to use 

 an excess of fire-heat for keeping out the frost. About the last week 

 of January, or the first week in .February, shift them into one size 

 larger, and then no further repotting will be required, as it is in- 

 tended they should bloom in these pots. Cinerarias from seed 

 require no stopping or training, and to keep them dwarf and com- 

 pact, they must be placed near the glass from the time they are 

 potted oif separately until they ai'e coming into bloom and are 

 removed to the conservatory. They should receive nothing but 

 clear soft water, as the use of stimulants frequently does more harm 

 than good. The foliage sometimes becomes infested with green- 

 fly, but this pest may be readily destroyed by fumigating them with 

 tobacco. The compost we have found the most suitable after they 

 are potted ofi' separately, is prepared with mellow loam four parts, 

 leaf-mould one part, and a small proportion each of manure rotted to 

 a powder, and sharp silver sand. 



To prevent private letters being addressed to me, which ray 

 duties render it impossible for me to answer, I would say that seed 

 raised from first-class strains may be had from the principal seeds- 

 men, provided the best seed is ordered. 



Mr. William Paul's Exhibition of Pot Roses, -vvliicli is now considered one 

 of tbe important events of the London season, was this j'ear held in the gardens of 

 the Eoyal Botanic Society in the Regent's Park. The plants were arranged in the 

 large Rhododendron tent -on the west side of the gardens, and although the display, 

 as in past yenrs, was rich in specimens of immense size, fresh and superhly flowered, 

 did not appear equal to similar shows held at the Crystal Palace and South Ken- 

 sington. The tent was too large to allow of the specimens being staged close 

 enough together to produce a decisive effect and leave a thoroughly favourable im- 

 pression on the mind. The general effect was also materially impaired by the pots 

 being placed on the bare soil instead of on grass banks. There was one advantage 

 in having a large tent, and that consisted in plenty of space being afforded for the 

 ■whole of the specimens to be stood out singlj^, so that they could be readily seen on 

 all sides. The exliibition com.prised in addition to the roses a large number of fine 

 pyramidal specimen Ivies, numerous hardy deciduous trees with variegated and 

 richly-coloured foliage, a few choice evergreens, and examples of some of the best 

 gold, silver, and brouze zonal pelargoniums. 



