BRIEF REMARKS. 45 



Calceolarias. — This flower has long been a favourite of mine. 

 I have annually bought some of the best varieties, and as regularly- 

 lost the greater part during the summer, when the bloom was over, till 

 the summer of 1849. An old grower called upon me in the spring of 

 that year, and on my relating the lossses I had so long sustained, he 

 requested the detail of my summer's treatment, and on my naming it, 

 he pointed out immediately wherein my failure consisted. 



I had been accustomed to place my plants out-doors in the full sun 

 after they had done blooming, and in this situation the pots became 

 much heated, which dried and soon killed the roots, and the plants 

 gradually perished. He supplied me with the following particulars 

 relative to a successful management of the Calceolaria : — 



Compost. — Sandy-loam, peat, and leaf-mould, and old-rotten cow- 

 dung, in equal portions. A liberal drainage always to be given. 



Propagation. — The side-shoots throw out numerous rootlets at the 

 closing part of summer, then take off what is required. If roots 

 appear, pot off singly into four-inch pots ; if no rootlets appear, put 

 them off as cuttings, a number in a pot, and place the pot in a cool 

 frame in the shade: they will soon root; then pot before winter. Keep 

 the plants through winter in a cool pit, just from frost and damp ; or 

 in a cool, somewhat shady place in a greenhouse. Never make a 

 codling of a Calceolaria plant, so that at all times give plenty of air. 

 Ee-pot in February into two sizes larger, and when they begin to grow, 

 give a proportionate increase of water ; let the water be cold, and once 

 a-week give a soaking of manure-water, for, when growing freely, they 

 are gluttons with food, and show it advantageously too. A second, or 

 even a third shift may be required if the pots become filled well with 

 roots. They will not require shifting after the middle of May. All 

 air, I repeat, must be given, especially as the flower-stems are pushing, 

 so that they may not be drawn up weakly. Keep them vigorous and 

 as low as possible : they delight in a cool air, let them have it at night 

 too, as this is especially refreshing to them. Never allow the roots to 

 be dry overnight, let them have the cool damp through it. During 

 the period of bloom, if you wish to have the plants in a greenhouse, 

 place each pot inside a larger, fill up between with moss, and water 

 them well every evening ; it will keep the roots cool. Have the plants 

 where a free air can be admitted. When the bloom is over, place the 

 plants out-doors in a somewhat shady, but airy'situation ; and if a bed 

 of moss is formed, and the pots plunged up to the rim in it, that also 

 being occasionally watered, it will very much contribute to their pros- 

 perity. 



Seed should be sown as soon as ripe, the plants be potted off singly 

 as soon as strong enough, and be treated in all respects as above recom- 

 mended. It is essential to success that abundance of air be given the 

 Calceolaria ; keep the roots cold as possible, and never use rvarm water 

 or allow the plants to wither. 



Now, since I was favoured with these simple directions, I have prac- 

 tised them, and have not lost a plant the last two seasons, and my 

 stock has grown and blossomed vigorously. 



