*74 CALCEOLARIA. 



moist situation, in October and November, when rootlets are pro- 

 duced ; such shoots being then taken off, and potted separately, 

 establish themselves well before the severity of winter : they should 

 be putted into small pots, in a light sandy loam and vegetable mould 

 equal parts. Immediately on potting, they must be placed in a close 

 frame for about a month ; this closeness very materially contributes 

 to an immediate growth, for, when exposed to a stronger current of 

 air, it has a tendency to dry the foliage and injure the plant. Whilst 

 in the frame, keep the soil moist, but be careful not to wet the 

 foliage, as it would be likely to tot the plants. At the end of 

 November, the plants should be placed on a shelf near the glass in a 

 greenhouse, to remain during the winter. In this situation they will 

 grow freely, and if the pots become filled with roots, they should be 

 repotted into larger ; this encourages them to grow in size, without 

 which weak blooming shoots would in all probability push, to the 

 injury of a proper bloom the following season. 



At the beginning of March, the plants must be re-potted into 

 twenty-four-sized pots, using wide-mouthed pots, as such keep the 

 earth in a much better state than upright ones. Have a sandy loam 

 enriched with well rotted cow-dung; the latter is found very 

 beneficial ; being of a cooler nature than horse-dung, it is mote 

 suited to the Calceolaria. At the beginning of April, re-pot into 

 twelve-sized pots, using the same kind of compost. At each potting 

 a free portion of drainage should be given, to admit the water to run 

 off easily upon the potsherds, lumps of loam, bog, and dung of two 

 or three inches in diameter ; this admits a greater proportion of water 

 being applied, and affords a corresponding quantity of nutriment. 

 Fresh water and liquid manure should be regularly used from the 

 potting into twenty- fours, using the liquid manure every third 

 watering. The plants should be kept in the front part of a green- 

 house during the time from autumn to the close of their blooming, 

 which is usually the end of July. In hot sun, a net shading or 

 canvas shade is requisite over the glass. At that time, the stems 

 being withered, I re-pot those desired for extra-sized plants the 

 following year, by reducing the balls of earth and potting them into 

 pots about half the size they had been growing in. After potting, 

 they should be placed in a cool frame, and shaded from hot sun for a 

 month. Then expose them to the open air, placing them in the 



