ON PELABGONITJMS. 223 



in which we abound I prepare cuttings as above described, and 

 prick them out in a bed of finely sifted soil, in a warm situation 

 in the open air. By shading them for a short time they soon strike 

 root. Whenthis is perceived to be the case, I pot them singly 

 into small 60s, shifting at the same time those that were inserted 

 in the small pots. In potting I use a compost of equal parts of 

 sandy loam, peat, and well decomposed manure, adding about one 

 eighth part sand; when potted, I place them in a frame, where the 

 lights are put on in the day time, in order to throw a mat over 

 them to shade the young plants from the sun ; the lights are taken 

 off in the evening, and the plants supplied with water, until they 

 have struck fresh root, when this is found to be the case, the lights 

 are removed altogether, and the plants duly supplied with water. 

 They remain in this state till the middle of August, when 1 carefully 

 examine them, and shift those which have made sufficient roots 

 into one size larger pots, being careful in this, as in all other shift- 

 ings, to use a sufficient quantity of drainage to carry off the 

 superfluous moisture. Those plants not sufficiently rooted by that 

 period, I defer shifting till the spring, as they succeed better when 

 shifted at that time. After thus looking over all the plants, 

 they are replaced in the frame, and treated the same as before, 

 with this exception, that the lights are put on at night, and during 

 heavy showers. About the first week in October they are removed 

 to the greenhouse, where they receive all the air that can be 

 admitted with a regular, but moderate supply of water. Fire heat 

 is not used except to repel frost, or the dry damps arising from 

 watering, or other causes ; to avoid damps in a measure I find it 

 best to water in the morning, so that the air admitted during the 

 day assists to carry off the superabundant moisture. The surface 

 soil in the pot is frequently stirred, and occasionally some of the 

 old removed and renewed ; all decayed leaves are removed, both 

 on account of the well being of the plants, and to preserve neat- 

 ness and order. 



Potting. — The time of performing this operation is partly 

 regulated by the state of the plants ; those that were shifted in Au- 

 gust, do not require shifting again till the middle of February, and 

 again early in April, whilst those that were not shifted in the 

 autumn require their first shift in February. In each successive 

 shift I use one size larger, taking care to put plenty of drainage 

 into the bottom, and to press the soil firm in the pots. I find the 

 following compost to answer well: two barrowsfull of light hasel 



