108 THE ELOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



in mind that those chosen must be of the best possible form, clear 

 colours and marking, as much depends on this in producing new 

 and first-rate varieties. When this is done, some secluded place in 

 the garden should be selected, to keep them entirely apart from any 

 inferior varieties, with which tbe bees would cross them, and 

 produce muddy, unsightly flowers, instead of clear and well-defined 

 colours. When the seeds are ripe, sow immediately in some shady 

 place ; and as soon as large enough, prick off thinly into pans or 

 wide pots, and keep close for a few days, until they are properly 

 established, when they may be removed to the open air until large 

 enough to place in single pots : should large plants be required, 

 they should be stopped when about two or three inches high. As 

 soon as the seeds are gathered, the old plants should be cut down, 

 or partly so, as in many instances the crowns of the plants rot if cut 

 too close to the surface. Now that they are cut down, remove them 

 to some shady place (a north border being preferable), until they 

 throw up young shoots, when they should be potted into large pots, 

 in a light compost, or planted out in the open ground in a light soil, 

 where they will furnish strong cuttings, and from these only can 

 good specimens be obtained. When they have grown about an inch 

 or two, remove the cuttings, and place them in mould prepared lor 

 the purpose — composed of equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and 

 silver sand, taking care to well drain the pots with potsherds. 

 When rooted (which will be in about a fortnight), pot off into 

 thumbs or three-inch pots, in a nice light soil. Should first-rate 

 plants be wanted, every care will now be required to keep them in a 

 growing and healthy condition, to which end they should be shifted 

 every few weeks until they receive their final potting, which should 

 be about January; every care should be taken that they do not get 

 pot-bound in small pots, as that would throw them into a blooming 

 state immediately. The compost I would recommend for specimens 

 intended for exhibition, and for large plants generally, would be 

 two parts of good turfy loam, and equal parts of well-decomposed 

 cow-dung and leaf-mould, with an admixture of silver or river sand. 

 As the plants grow, take care to thin out all superfluous leaves, so 

 as to admit the air freely and prevent mildew, which is a great pest, 

 and which can only be removed by applying sulphur to the parts 

 affected. The Cineraria should only be stopped once, as the second 

 operation tends to produce weak growth. As soon as the shoots are 

 long enough, tie out wide, keeping the outer branches as low as 

 possible, and place them close to the glass, which will insure dwarf 

 and compact plants. I had nearly forgotten the drainage, which 

 should be of rough leaf-mould and potsherds mixed, which will keep 

 the roots in a white and healthy state ; fumigate occasionally, to 

 prevent the green-fly ; and water very sparingly through the winter 

 months, increasing the supply as the spring advances, when weak 

 liquid manure may occasionally be given. 



