THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 179 



half-ripened shoots of the current season planted in sandy peat, and 

 placed in bottom heat under a hand-glass or bell-glass, will root with 

 certainty in a short time. 



They should then be gradually exposed to the air of tbe house ; 

 and when well established, they should bs potted in three-inch pots ; 

 then plunge them into bottom-heat, with partial shade, and promote 

 their growth in a rather high temperature, keeping up an abund- 

 ance of moisture. By pursuing tbis system, fine bushy flowering 

 plants may be produced the second season ; but the cultivation of 

 this lovely plant must not rest here. We ought not to content 

 ourselves with merely producing plants in six-inch pots, sucb as are 

 brought to Covent Garden market ; for there is scarcely anything 

 more attractive or more desirable than a well-grown specimen, in 

 full flower, of either of the Gardenias. The soil most suitable for 

 then- successful culture is a part of our subject of great importance, 

 for to the want of due attention to this may be ascribed many of 

 those miserable-looking objects which disgrace our collections. A 

 suitable compost may be made of the following materials : One-third 

 turfy peat, one-third leaf-mould, and one-third thoroughly decom- 

 posed cow-dung ; let these be well intermixed with an addition of 

 one-sixth of the whole of pure silver-sand. Let the principles of 

 draining and potting, pointed out in the former articles, be strictly 

 adhered to, and let the following directions be put into practice, 

 and ths result will be satisfactory. Supposing a plant is required 

 in all its beauty in summer, and this is only the natural season 

 when any plant can be brought to perfection, place the plant in a 

 clo^e pit in early spring after being potted, and plunge the pot in a 

 genial bottom-heat of 80° ; maintain a degree of 60° in the pit by 

 night ; keep up a moderate but constant moisture, as the Gardenia 

 delights in a warm and humid atmosphere, and with such encourage- 

 ment the growth will be kindly and luxuriant. 



As the season advances, increase the temperature of the pit a 

 few degrees, until it reaches 75° or 80° by night, and increase the 

 size of the pot, should such appear to be necessary. This will 

 scarcely, however, be requisite, as one good shift in a season will 

 generally be sufficient for Gardenias. Keep the soil in the pots 

 moderately supplied with tepid water, but as vapour is constantly 

 •scaping, the supply of water to the roots must be carefully and 

 relatively administered. 



A little liquid manure may also be beneficially applied during the 

 period of rapid growth, and until the flowers make their appear- 

 ance. This will be the time to begin to expose the plant gradually 

 to a lower temperature, for it is only in the temperate climate of a 

 greenhouse or drawing-room that this plant can be sufficiently 

 estimated and enjoyed. When the flowering season is past, it 

 should be followed by a season of repose, and the supply of moisture 

 in some measure withheld, and this partial suspension of the active 

 functions of the plant will advance the ripening and hardening of the 

 wood, which has been produced in an extremely excitable atmo- 

 re; and this at the same time will promote the accumulation of 



June. 



