190 THE FLORAL WORLD AXD GARDEN GUIDE. 



THE APHELEXIS. 



|HE varieties of this useful genus are all rather free 

 growers, and, with moderate care, form compact, hand- 

 some specimens ; but, like the majority of hard-wooded 

 plants, they are apt to suffer much from improper treat- 

 ment — such as over- watering during winter ; allowing 

 the soil to become dry in hot weather ; exposing them, when in a 

 soft state, to sudden atmospheric changes ; allowing them to become 

 pot-bound, and permitting them to remain several months in that 

 condition ; thus giving them a large shift, and applying water care- 

 lessly afterwards. 



Cuttings made of firm young wood root freely enough, as does 

 also bits of ripe wood having several shoots. They should be put 

 in early in spring, planted iu very sandy peat, covered with a bell- 

 glass, placed in a temperature of about 55°, and, if properly cared 

 for as regards water, and guarded from damp, they will soon emit 

 roots. If ripe pieces of wood are used, they will be longer in 

 emitting roots than young cuttings, but they will form plants sooner. 

 Beginners will save time, however, by procuring young plants from 

 the nursery at once ; and if strong dwarf little ones are obtained, 

 they are well worth what they usually cost. Supposing young 

 plants to be obtained now (although too late to get a good season's 

 growth), let them be placed in a cold frame or pit — or near the 

 glass in the greenhouse will do — and be screened from the full force 

 of the mid-day sun, and afforded a moist growing atmosphere. If 

 the pots are moderately filled with active roots, give a shift at once 

 into pots one or two sizes larger, according to the health and vigour 

 of the plants. Keep the atmosphere rather close, and as moist as 

 can conveniently be done, for a fortnight after shifting, and give 

 water to the soil sparingly until the roots strike into the fresh 

 material. As soon as they have become fairly established after potting, 

 they should be freely exposed to air, night and day, merely screen- 

 ing them from the mid-cay sun, aud shutting them up for a few hours 

 in the evening, after syringing them ; but the night dews will be 

 beneficial ; and, if in a cold pit, the lights may be drawn off at night, 

 except when there is any indication of a storm. Stopping and 

 regulating the shoots must also be attended to, and most of the 

 varieties require frequent stopping; but this should not be done 

 immediately after shifting, nor until the roots have struck into the 

 fresh soil; audit is advisable to manage so that the plants may 

 make a moderate growth iu autumn, after the last stopping. The 

 atmosphere should be cool and rather dry after the middle of Sep- 

 tember, and by the end of the month the plants should be removed 

 to their winter quarters, for which purpose a front shelf in the 

 greenhouse will be found the best. During winter water must be 

 applied carefully, and rather sparingly, for if given in excess at this 

 season the plants will be ruined. As early in spring as may be con- 

 venient remove them to a situation where they can be afforded a 

 temperature of about 50°, with a moist growing atmosphere, and as 



