THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 315 



TEEATMENT OF CINERARIAS. 



OMMON" as these plants are, yet few manage them well. 

 We too often see tall drawn-up plants, instead of dwarf 

 bushes. Propagation is easily effected by dividing the 

 young offsets from the old plants, and potting into 

 small sized pots ; but cuttings are preferable, which 

 should be put in about the end of June, and placed in a cold frame ; 

 or, select seed from the best varieties, sow early in the spring, in 

 wide-mouthed pots or pans, and place them where they may receive 

 a gentle bottom-heat ; and when the seeds have germinated, and the 

 rough leaves are making their appearance, move them carefully 

 into small sized pots and continue them in a gentle beat, until the 

 weather will permit them to be removed to a frame. Let their 

 position be close to the glass — kept shaded and free from air for a 

 few days ; after which give a little air, gradually increasing it until 

 they become comparatively hardened, so that, alter a short period, 

 air may be given without engendering any disorder in the plants. 

 Water should be applied moderately, just enough to keep them 

 moist. Never by any means allow them to become thoroughly dry, 

 for the insufficiency of water is the sole cause of that destructive 

 fungus called mildew, which gradually increases, until the plants 

 get into an unhealthy state, and become next to useless. Then how 

 important it is to be on the watch for this insidious foe ; for preven- 

 tion is better than cure, and it is much easier to expel the disease 

 on its first approach than when it has been permitted to ruin the 

 plant. Three things have come under my observation as regards 

 excluding this encroaching fungus. First, by admitting a free cir- 

 culation of air, which should be regularly attended to every day, 

 shutting it off at night. Secondly, as before stated, by attending 

 carefully to the watering. Thirdly, by removing the dead foliage 

 from them, which is also a harbour for green-fly. By adopting the 

 above treatment, I have successfully kept this destructive parasite 

 in check. If green-fly appears, with which they are very apt to be 

 infested, fumigate with tobacco. The plants should now require a 

 shift into a larger sized pot, and let the following compost be used : 

 "turfy peat, fibry loam, leaf-mould, decomposed cow-dung, and drift- 

 sand, equal parts of each, beaten roughly together, mixing in a little 

 silver sand. Prepare a six-inch sized pot, with a good drainage, 

 over which place a thin layer of turfy peat, to prevent the soil from 

 intermixing with the sherds. Repot, and again place them in the 

 frame. Water moderately, and the admittance of a good current of 

 air will also have a good effect on them. Let all possible care be 

 taken not to have the roots coiled amd cramped by their coming in 

 contact with the side of the pot, which is generally the case after 

 subsisting in the same pot too long. Then, as soon as the roots are 

 penetrating through the soil, let the plant be again repotted into a 

 larger sized pot, using the aforesaid admixture, and be replaced in 

 the same position as before described, keeping them thoroughly 

 clear from aphides by occasionally fumigating. By this time they 



October. 



