716 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



a disposition to bloom prematurely. These early flowers must be perse- 

 veringly removed to throw the strength into the shoots, to be husbanded up 

 for a perfect inflorescence at the proper season. Keep the plants within a 

 yard of the glass, if possible, to prevent their drawing, and fumigate as soon 

 as one green fly is visible. 



2245. Cinerarias. — The eai'liest of these will now be in flower in the con- 

 servatory ; succession plants will be coming on here. Few plants are so 

 effective for decorative purposes as these. Unless for exhibition, it is best to 

 grow them annually from seed. The first sowing should be made in March, in 

 pans filled with equal parts of peat and loam and one-sixth part sand. They 

 should be well drained, made firm, and the seed slightly covered, and placed 

 on a slight bottom-heat. Keep the pans and young plants, when they appeal-, 

 partially shaded from the bright sun ; put them into 3-inch pots as soon as 

 they will bear handling, retui-n them to the same place, and renew the same 

 treatment until they are thoroughly established in their pots. Then gra- 

 dually harden them by giving plenty of air, and place them in a sheltered 

 situation out of doors towards the end of May. As the roots reach the sides 

 of the pots, shift them into larger, giving them their final shift in September. 

 The first flower-stems should be cut out close to the bottom when large plants 

 are desired. This will induce them to throw out from six to twelve side- 

 shoots ; — these may be reduced, or all left, at the option of the grower. 

 Towards the end of September, they should be returned to a cold-pit, and 

 they will begin to flower in October. No soil is better for growing them 

 than equal parts rich loam, leaf-mould, and thoroughly rotted sheep- or horse- 

 dung, liberally mixed with sharp sand or chai'coal-dust, and used in a roughish 

 state. They also luxui-iate under the stimulating regimen of rich manure- 

 water. Another sowing may be made in April, and a third in May, lor very 

 late plants. The treatment of old plants may be similar to this. Cut them 

 down as soon as they are done flowering. Shake them out, and pot each 

 sucker separately in March ; then proceed as above in every respect. 



List of the lest Varieties. 



Acme, Adam Bede, Beauty, Brilliant, stone, Perfection, Qaeen Yictoria, 



Duke of Cambridge, Bridesmaid, the Queen of Lilies, Eegalia,Eoyal Marine, 



Colleen Bawn, Handel, Incomparable, Solferino, Slough's Kival, the Wizard, 



Mademoiselle Parepa, Magenta, Maid and Wonderful, 

 of Honour, Miss Marnock, Mrs. Living- 



•2246. Calceolarias.— These are more difficult to manage than cinerarias ; 

 they, however, require the same general, but more careiul treatment. The 

 seeds, which are very small, must barely be covered with soil in the pans con- 

 taining them ; it should be covered over with a bell-glass or sheet of glass. The 

 young plants are very delicate, and apt to take themselves off without leave ; 

 a shady situation out of doors, under a hand-light or a cold-pit, is the best 

 situation for them. As soon as they can bear the most delicate manipula- 

 tion, the seedlings should be pricked out into other pans prepared as for the 

 seed, and returned to their old quarters. When established in these, the 

 most critical period is over, and they may be potted into larger pots, and 



