294 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



hold of the fresh soil, after which a liberal supply will be necessary, 

 and the syringe should be used morniug and evening to keep the 

 foliage in a clean healthy state. The plants had better not be sub- 

 jected to a higher night temperature than from 50° to 55°, and 

 they should be removed to a cold frame as soon as the weather will 

 admit. If the frame is placed so as to be screened from the midday 

 sun, the plants will be less liable to the attacks of red spider, and 

 unless such is the case, a thin shade should be thrown over the glass 

 on the forenoons of bright days. This Indigofera is a vigorous 

 grower, and healthy plants will require a second shift ; they will 

 probably be ready for this early in June, and it should not be 

 deferred after it is wanted, otherwise the growth of the plants will 

 be checked, and it is desirable to have the pots well filled with roots 

 before winter. Very little attention will be required in training the 

 specimens in any desired form. The branches should be held up at 

 regular distances apart, so as to admit light and air, and any shoot 

 which inclines to take a decided lead must be stopped, so as to- 

 maintain a compact and regular form of growth. After about the 

 middle of August the object should be to ripen the wood, and to- 

 effect this it will be necessary to expose them freely to sun and air, 

 and to lessen the supply of water at the root. When damp weather 

 occurs, unless the wood is well matured, remove the plants to the 

 front of the greenhouse, or to any airy position, where the ripening 

 of the shoots will be completed. Plants the growth of which is 

 properly matured will winter safely anywhere out of the reach of 

 frost, and a few degrees of this will not injure them, but improperly 

 ripened wood is apt to damp off, therefore it is worth while being at 

 some trouble to get the young shoots thoroughly matured previous 

 to the damp, foggy days of November. "Water should be altogether 

 withheld while the plants are in a dormant state. In eases where it 

 is desired to obtain large specimens without loss of time, the plants 

 may be placed in growing circumstances early in spring, taking care 

 to bring the soil into a moist, healthy state, and to keep the foliage 

 clean and healthy. 



By attention to potting, etc., during the season, as recommended 

 in our last, large specimens will be obtained previous to winter. 

 The treatment under which I have found full-grown specimens to 

 flower most profusely, and continue the longest in perfection, is. to 

 keep them dry at the root during winter and till late in spring, and 

 thoroughly moisten the soil, letting the plants occupy a place in the 

 closest part of the greenhouse, and moistening them overhead fre- 

 quently, until they commence flowering, which may be about June 

 or early in July, according to the time at which they are started into 

 growth. By giving a liberal supply of manure-water during the 

 period the plants are in bloom, and keeping them in a close part of 

 the flower-house, they will go on growing and flowering in great 

 perfection for some two or three months in succession, and few 

 plants are more handsome than large well-bloomed specimens of this 

 Indigofera. A moderate shift should be afforded the specimens 

 annually as long as this can be conveniently done ; and when the 

 size of the pots renders this impracticable, the balls may be reduced, 



