WINTERING HALF-HARDY FLOWERS FOR MASSES. 255 



a bed 15 inches asunder, and that they were covered Sh inches deep 

 with light soil. Tliey were not protected in winter in any way ; but 

 after the stems died down the soil was carefully removed down to the 

 bulbs and replaced by fresh material. The flowers were better coloured 

 than tliose produced in a greenhouse, and now that these Japan Lilies 

 have been ascertained to be hardy, they will, no doubt, become great 

 favourites for out-door decoration, blooming as tliey do at this season, 

 when flowers are so much wanted. — Of novelties, Messi's. Backhouse, 

 of York, sent a most beautiful rosy purple flowered variety of Achi- 

 menes, named venusta, which looked as if it had been a cross 

 between patens and rosea, having the rich colours of the former 

 infused into the small flowers of the latter. A certificate was 

 awarded it, and a similar award was also made to the same nurserymen 

 for a cut specimen of an orange-coloured plant from Caffraria, resem- 

 bling a Geissorhiza. Judging from an imperfect specimen, it appeared 

 to be a very handsome thing, and if it should turn out to be hardy, as 

 is supposed, and its habit at all correspond with its beauty, it will prove 

 d. desideratum. Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Exeter, sent the bad 

 variety of Achimenes Skinneri, a cut specimen of Lysionotuslongiflorus, 

 and Calceolaria albiflora, a neat looking species, which may perhaps 

 prove suitable for bedding. A certificate was awarded it. Mr. Wood, 

 gardener to J. G. Seager, Esq., sent Acanthophippium javanicum, and 

 Mr. Ambrose, of Battersea, a scarlet Pelargonium named " Magnum 

 bonum." 



WINTERING HALF-HARDY FLOWERS FOR MASSES. 



Early propagation is the most sure stepping-stone to successful 

 wintering, added to whicli we may say early potting. Many persons 

 propagate stock of this kind under hand-glasses ; and there is no better 

 plan in a general way, provided it is done betimes in the season. 

 Where such is the case, the stock will be ready for potting off in the 

 course of September, when they will get thoroughly established in 

 their pots before winter commences, a thing of the utmost importance ; 

 for if hurried into pots, just before the approach of winter, they will of 

 course require some watering to establish them, and such will prove 

 their greatest enemy if frost supervene. Pots of about six or seven 

 inches diameter are most eligible, and they must be thoroughly drained. 

 The soil for them should be composed of three-fourths sound loam, the 

 rest fine vegetable matter, with some sharp sand. Exciting manures 

 are out of the question, as they will produce an overgrown plant which 

 may soon become a prey to the Ice King. A pot of this description 

 will liold nearly a dozen plants ; it is a good plan, however, to let no 

 two plants toucli. Those who have not a frame or pit to spare should 

 form a turf pit, which is in any one's power to do, the surface of 

 which siiould have a plate of wood on which the protectors may rest ; 

 which protectors, if sashes cannot be spared, may be thatched hurdles, 

 or wooden shutters, so contrived as to exclude moisture. The bottom 

 of the pit must be rendered perfectly dry, and the pots may be plunged 

 in coal-ashes or sawdust ; the latter, if new, is excellent for the 

 purpose. 



