132 ON THK CDLTIVATION OF THE POLYANTHUS. 



The finest sorts of Polyantlius — such as are named at the end 

 of this article — should always be gi-own in pots, and the pots be 

 plunged in a fi-aine made according to the description given below. 

 Many other kinds, as Cox's Regent, Fletcher's Defiance, and 

 Tanterarara, which are of a luxuriant habit, will thrive well in 

 the open air. 



The soil in which I find the Pol3'anthus to flower the best is a 

 strong fresh loam, with one-sixth of well-rotted cow's dung, and a 

 small portion of sand or gi-avel intennixed, and about one-fourth 

 of leaf mould. 



The season of potting or replanting is after the plants have done 

 blooming, and the seed is nearly pei'fected. This is generally the 

 case about the end of May. In doing this, be careful to have the 

 pots well drained, and for beds to have them raised higher than 

 the suiTounding gi'ound. With old plants be careful to cut off 

 the bottom caiTot-like part of the stumpy root, retaining that part 

 only that has plenty of young fibres. In dividing the plants, care 

 should be taken not to take any offsets but such as are strong, and 

 likely to be vigorous flowering plants ; when the offsets are small, 

 they generally die before the end of summer. After potting, 

 water the plants freely, in order to settle the soil well to the roots. 

 The plants must then be placed in a shady situation, but at the 

 same time where they can have a free admission of air. They 

 must not be watered again until the plants give signs of having 

 struck root. 



About the end of October, the plants in pots must be dressed, 

 and placed in a pit or frame, if of wood ; the outside of it must be 

 protected by coal ashes, earth, or something of the sort. The 

 pots must be placed on bricks, so that air can freely circulate 

 round the plants, and be raised to about a foot from the glass. It 

 is advisable to plunge the pots up to the rims in coal ashes at the 

 bottom of the frame or pit, in order to prevent slugs for creeping, 

 and preserve the roots. All the air tliat can be given should be 

 admitted, so that the plants are not injured by wet, as frost rarely 

 damages them. They must be kept moderately dry during No- 

 vember, December, January, and February ; at the end of the 

 latter month, they will begin to push a little, when more water 

 may be applied. The plants I have in the open gi'ound, I place 

 a brick fence round them, and cover by a wooden shutter during 



