CINERARIAS. 179 



CINERARIAS. 



These plants may be grown either in greenhouses or pits ; the latter I 

 sliould recommend at this time of the year. The proper compost to 

 grow them in is formed of one part turfy loam, one part peat, and one 

 part horse or cow manure ; this latter article should be used in a very 

 decayed state ; add to this a little coarse sand to sharpen the soil. 

 Good drainage is essentially necessary to the growth of these plants ; 

 a layer of broken crocks, two inches in thickness, will not be found too 

 much for the pots intended for blooming in. Give sufficient air to 

 keep the plants in a healthy state without drawing the foliage. The 

 green fly is a great enemy to tliis class of flowers, but it may easily be 

 got rid of by fumigating with tobacco two or three times early in the 

 spring. When stock is required of a new variety, the sooner the 

 plants are headed down to within one inch of the pot the better ; they 

 will soon make side shoots, which should be carefully divided to let 

 every young plant have a small portion of root ; they will do very 

 well in the compost recommended for the large plants, but will 

 require, in addition, a little wliite sand worked in with the soil, at the 

 root of each, which will cause them to strike much earlier. They 

 may be placed singly in thumb-pots, or put four or five round the edge 

 of a sixty ; set them in cold frames, not too far from the glass, and 

 shade them when the sun is powerful. 



The properties which constitute a perfect Cineraria for exhibition 

 are these: — 1st. The plant should exhibit a healthy appearance, with 

 broad and compact foliage. 2nd. The trusses should be large, round, 

 and close, without any division between the flowers, and should rise 

 sufficiently above tlie foliage to form a large globular head of bloom ; 

 when the branches project, and the trusses are partly hidden with 

 foliage, we consider it defective as a show plant. 3rd. The petals 

 should be broad, firm in texture, and smooth on the edges, forming a 

 close, well-arranged, circular flower, wliich must not reflex in the 

 slightest degree, and should measure at least one inch in diameter. 

 4th. The colours ought to be dense, rich, and brilliant, Avhether edged 

 varieties or selfs. 5th. The centre, or yellow disc, should be one- 

 quarter the diameter of the flower, and should rise above the petals to 

 form a beautiful round centre, which must resemble in shape half a 

 ball ; when this property is perfect, it adds essentially to the beauty of 

 the plant. 



Descriptive List op Good Show Cinerarias. 



Ivery's Sapphire, a compact and good shaped flower ; colour, dark 

 rich blue self; petals broad, round, and smooth on the edges. Ivery'i 

 Nobilis, a large and beautiful shaped flower ; colour, white ground, 

 with petals deeply edged with dark lilac. Henderson's Koyal Crimson, 

 a good shajied flower; colour, a rich crimson self; petals broad, firm 

 in texture, and smooth on the edges. Ivery's Brilliant, form, good ; 

 colour, a dark rose self; petals broad, and of good shape. Henderson's 

 Vernalis, a good formed flower ; colour, a dark blue self, with a fiery 

 centre ; petals broad, firm, and even on the edges. Ivery's Fairy 

 Queen, a good shaped flower; colour, -a white self; petals broad, 



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