268 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



air whenever the weather permits. If the plants are at all strag- 

 gling, the shoots should be tied down in nearly a horizontal position, 

 and stopped to cause them to break close and form nice bushy foun- 

 dations ; and the foliage, if at all infested with insects, should be 

 carefully washed before placing them in heat. Attention must also 

 be paid to the state of the roots, giving a moderate shift to such as 

 have well filled their pots with active roots before placing them in 

 growing circumstances. If in bottom-heat, the plants must be very 

 sparingly watered for some time after sbifting ; for when the pots 

 are plunged in any damp material, very little water is required, and 

 inexperienced cultivators are apt to suppose that because the sur- 

 face appears dry, the ball must be so also, and very often rot the 

 roots by giving too much water. But in the case of young plants 

 this little difficulty is easily overcome, as the pots can be easily 

 lifted and weighed in the hand, which is the safest way of ascertain- 

 ing the state of the soil as to moisture. Endeavour to keep the 

 atmosphere regularly moist, and syringe the plants overhead on the 

 evenings of fine days, and as the sun becomes powerful afford them 

 a slight shade on the forenoons of bright days, but use this merely 

 when necessary to prevent the leaves scorching. 



As the plants advance iu growth, attend to keeping the shoots 

 regularly tied out and stopped, so as to secure compact, bushy 

 growth, and shift into larger pots before they sustain any check 

 through the want of sufficient space for their roots. If properly 

 attended to, the plants will make rapid progress, and will form nice- 

 sized specimens in course of the season ; but if they are intended 

 for flowering the following spring, they must not be kept growing 

 later in the autumn than will allow of getting the young wood well- 

 ripened before winter, for unless this is attended to there may be 

 some disappointment experienced through their not flowering freely ; 

 but if good-sized specimens are desired, they should be encouraged 

 to grow as late in autumn as strong short-jointed wood can be 

 obtained. Shading should, of course, be discontinued as early in 

 autumn as it can be safely dispensed with. When vigorous short- 

 jointed wood cannot be obtained in autumn, remove the plants to 

 a cooler house, where the atmosphere can be kept rather dry, and 

 air admitted on fine days to ripen the wood. During winter they 

 should be afforded a temperature of about 55°, and be kept rather 

 sparingly supplied with water at the root. If treated a second 

 season as recommended above, they will form nice-sized specimens ; 

 but they must not be stopped too late in the autumn, as they will be 

 expected to flower in the spring; and the wood must be well- 

 matured, to ensure having a profusion of fine large heads of bloom. 

 "While in flower they should be shaded from bright sunshine, and 

 not kept too warm nor damp, as the flowers will last longer in a 

 rather cool dry atmosphere. 



After flowering, and allowing the specimens a fortnight or so to 

 recruit their energies, cut back any of the shoots as may be neces- 

 sary to maintain a dwarf bushy habit, and thoroughly clean the- 

 foliage. Examine the state of the roots, and give a moderate shift 

 if the ball is heavily matted with roots, and place them in a moist 



