2S0 THE FLORAL "U'OKLD AXD GAKDEN GOIDE. 



summer months. A slight shade thrown over the glass for a few 

 hours in the forenoons of hright days, will be of great service to 

 them ; but this should he used sparingly, and should be of such 

 material as will merely break the force of the sun's rays, without 

 darkening the pit. Too much air can hardly be given, except when 

 dry parching winds prevail, when the lights should be raised on the 

 sheltered side, shadiug the glass, to keep down the temperatnre, if 

 necessary, and on mild settled nights the lights may be left off, so 

 as to give the plaDts the benefit of the night dews. Maintain a moist 

 atmosphere by sprinkling the plants overhead with the syringe on 

 the mornings and evenings of bright days, and if the pots stand 

 on a bed of coal-ashes, keep the latter frequently watered. 



A second shift wiil probably be necessary in the case of vigorous 

 growing specimens, early in J une ; this should be afforded them 

 before the roots get matted, and strong plants will bear a liberal 

 shift at this season. 



They will require some means of support, and whether trellises 

 or stakes are used, it will be necessary to commence training before 

 the shoots get entwined, otherwise they will be troublesome to undo, 

 and will probably sustain injury in the operation ; any gross shoot 

 should also be stopped, in order to equalize the growth and secure 

 well- furnished specimens. When the weather becomes cool in 

 autumn, discontinue syringing overhead, aud keep the atmosphere 

 drier, with a view to ripen the young wood; and when the weather 

 becomes unsettled, remove them to a light, airy part of the green- 

 house, which will be a proper situation for them during the winter and 

 spring months, when they should be carefully watered, giving a libe- 

 ral soaking when necessary, and no more until it is wanted. When 

 in flower they should occupy a cool, airy situation, and if they can be 

 screened from the midday sun the blossoms will retain their beauty 

 longer ; when large specimens are wanted without loss of time, 

 however, it will be advisable to cut back the shoots so as to remove 

 most of the flowering wood, and to start the plants into growth 

 early in spring, allowing them another season's growth before per- 

 mitting them to bloom. Aud full grown specimens, after flowering, 

 will require to be cut back rather severely, well thinning out the 

 weaker shoots ; they should be kept under glass until they start 

 into growth, when they may be removed to a shady part of the 

 plant ground, and inured to exposure in the open air, where they 

 will make suflicient growth during the summer months. With a 

 small shift every season, or every alternate one, aud careful watering, 

 etc., giving weak clear manure-water occasionally, they will last for 

 several years. Toung plants are easily obtained either by means of 

 cuttings of short-jointed pieces of young wood, when about half ripe, 

 treated in the ordinary way, or by seeds, which are produced freely, 

 and afford a ready means of getting a stock of young plants, and it 

 is advisable to be prepared with these rather than to retain old ones 

 after they cannot be afforded sufficient fresh soil to keep them in 

 vigorous health. For soil, take good rich turfy peat and nice sandy 

 turfy loam, in the proportion of about two of the former to one of 

 the hitler ; and after breaking up the turf into small pieces, and. 



