ON THE CULTURE OF THE COCKSCOMB. 57 



Culture. — In the beginning of March, sow the seed in a 48 

 sized pot, and place it in a melon or cucumber frame, which is at 

 a heat of about 80 degrees. As soon as the plants are up, and their 

 cotyledons (seed leaves) are expanded, pot them into 60 sized 

 pots, and replace them in the frame near the glass, this will prevent 

 their being drawn up weakly, and will contribute to the health and 

 dwarf habits of the plants. The plants must be kept in these pots 

 till the comb is shewn, and those which show the earliest are nearly 

 always the best shaped. I have observed that the older the plants 

 were before shewing a comb, the more ill shaped it was when 

 shewn, and of an inferior colour, and of necessity upon a longer stem. 



The compost I find the plants do best in is, one-half of turf, 

 well chopped, of a reddish colour, nearly one-half of well rotted 

 hot-bed dung, and a small portion of leaf mould. These are well 

 incorporated together, but not sifted. The pots are also well drained. 



As soon as a good formed crown is obtained, the plants must be 

 removed into 48's, and be placed in the frame, near the glass, as 

 before directed. If any side branches appear, thev should be 

 taken off close to their origin, using a pair of scissors ; such side 

 shoots remaining, would rob the crown, and greatly diminish its 

 size. When the pots are filled with roots, the plants must be re- 

 moved into 32's, still keeping them in the frame, and allowing 

 plenty of room. If the pots be plunged into bark, it aids the vi- 

 gour of the plants. I have sometimes kept the plants in the frame 

 for four months. Some of the strongest plants may require 

 another removal into pots of a size larger, viz. 24's. They should 

 be kept a month longer in the frame, after the final potting, before 

 they are taken out to be placed in a stove or greenhouse. 



I have used strong liquid manure for watering with, during the. 

 lime the plants were in the frame. I do not find it essential, the 

 onh difference being, that it causes the comb to be of a darker co- 

 lour than those which have only pure rainwater. 



I can keep the plants in vigour till December. 



I have grown the combs from one foot to eighteen inches and 

 upwards <:i<:h, over the fop, and the extreme length, when opened, 

 thirty-live feet. The breadth of the combs have been from six to 

 mm- inches. Such have been produced upon plants mil more 

 than nine inclies high. W. BrOWK, .Tun. 



Calcarton, Sept, Srd. 1834. 



VOT. Ill I 



