THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 295 



and the plants repotted in the same sized pots, using rich fresh soil. 

 The best time for disrooting the plants is after their beauty is over 

 in autumn, and tbey should be afforded a close growing atmosphere 

 for a fortnight or so after potting, to induce the roots to strike into 

 the fresh soil, after which they may be removed to their winter 

 quai-ters. Good rich turfy loam and decayed leaves form an excel- 

 lent compost for the growth of this plant. The loam should be 

 broken into moderately small pieces, rejecting all but the prime 

 iibry portions, and be well intermixed with the leaf soil, adding 

 about one part in four, and a proportionate quantity of sharp sand, 

 according to the nature of the loam, and a sprinkling of lumpy pieces 

 of charcoal or broken potsherds will also assist in keeping the soil 

 open and ensuring perfect drainage. 



ACEOPHTLLU^f YEXOSOI. 



[HE finely serrated bronzy-coloured foliage of this plant 

 renders it a pretty object at all seasons of the year, and 

 when seen in the form of well-flowered specimens, it has 

 a very striking effect. Unfortunately, however, it is 

 very impatient of improper treatment, and must be 

 allowed to be rather difficult to manage successfully. Its culture, 

 however, is not so much a matter requiring any particular skill as 

 careful and constant attention, and with this any grower of mode- 

 rate experience may pr-oduce moderate specimens. Short-jointed, 

 rather firm bits of the youns: wood, slipped off with a heel and care- 

 fully managed, are not very difficult to root ; but beginners will save 

 time, and probably disappointment, by procuring nice dwarf, bushy, 

 healthy young plants from the nurseries. Thea*, if procured at once, 

 should be considered to have completed their growth for this 

 season, and should be placed near the glass in the greenhouse, or a 

 well-ventilated pit, taking care, however, not to expose them to cold 

 drying winds. During winter, water must be very carefully admi- 

 nistered to the soil, for if this ever gets sodden, the plant will be 

 ruined ; and although it may linger for a while, it will be only to 

 excite hopes which will never be realized. Therefore endeavour to 

 keep the soil in a healthy state as to moisture ; bat let it be bordering 

 upon dryness, for any little excess in this direction is not so likely 

 to be injurious as the opposite extreme. About the middle of 

 March young plants may be induced to start into growth, by placing 

 them where the night temperature is maintained at from 40° to 50°, 

 allowing it to rise some 10° with sun-heat and a circulation of air; 

 but there must be no approach to forcing, aud the heat should be 

 maintained as much as possible by shutting up early in the after- 

 noon, for it would be very unsafe for beginners to subject this plant 

 to much artificial heat. Keep it near the glass, and maintain a nice 

 moist atmosphere by sprinkling the passages, etc., as often as may 

 be necessary, aud lightly syringe the plants overhead on the after- 



October. 



