88 ON THE CULTURE OF THE CYCLAMEN PF.USICUM. 



vei-y early season, which thrive and retain their luxuriance even in 

 the atmosphere of a room, I have turned my attention to its general 

 culture. 



The plan of treatment pursued by me, I have much pleasure in 

 communicating. 



The Cyclamen Persicum begins to show its flower early in the 

 year, and may be said to be in beauty throughout the months of 

 March and April. As soon as the flowers fade and droop, the pots 

 containing the plants are placed on their sides, (as a precaution 

 against their being watered,) in a corner of the greenhouse. In 

 August, the roots are taken out of the pots, and the earth adhering 

 to them being first carefully shaken off, they are planted in an open, 

 but sheltered border of the garden, where they are allowed to remain 

 until the cold forebodes frost ; they are then taken up, the fibres 

 being carefully preserved, and are put into pots proportioned to the 

 size of each root ; the crown of the plant is well covered with earth, 

 and the compost used, consists of two parts leaf-mould, one ditto 

 sandy-peat, one ditto ashes of burnt vegetables, and a small portion 

 of thoroughly rotted dung. The plants thus potted are then ar- 

 ranged in a cold frame, and plunged to the rim in coal ashes. In 

 mild weather, the glass is taken off; but by night, protection from 

 frost, and by day from cold and rough wind, is indispensable. On 

 the flowers appearing, the plants are removed to the greenhouse, and 

 are placed as near the windows as possible, to have the advantage 

 both of sun and air ; they are abundantly watered with soft water, 

 of the same temperature as the atmosphere they are growing in, the 

 leaves also are occasionally well sprinkled ; but this operation is gone 

 through in the morning, and the windows of the house are immedi- 

 ately opened, otherwise the leaves would damp off, and the root decay. 

 The pots are well drained with pieces of brick. 



In recommending this treatment in the culture of the Persian 

 Cyclamen, I can speak with confidence, having, among other good 

 specimens, one plant on which, a few days since, I numbered eighty- 

 seven flowers. 



The dividing the roots to increase the stock of plants is bad ; the 

 roots are a long time recovering the wound then given, and do not 

 afterwards flower so strong. Young plants are obtained very easily 

 from seed. 



