188 VILLA GAKDENING part ii 



specimens. In any case it is best not to over-pot. Great help 

 may be obtained from the judicious use of liquid manure when the 

 flowers are coming up, but free drainage is essential to keep the 

 foliage in good colour. 



Saving Seeds. — When a good strain has been obtained, place 

 a few of the best and most distinct varieties on one side for seed- 

 bearing purposes, and gather the seeds as they ripen. Cinerarias 

 should stand on a cool bottom, and even in winter they will do 

 much better if only enough fire-heat be used to keep out frost effect- 

 ually. Double-flowered Cinerarias were originated on the Continent 

 a few years ago, and are now pretty well scattered through the 

 best gardens in this country. The best varieties have flowers as 

 double as a Eanuncidus, are exceedingly pretty, and last much 

 longer in a cut state than the single forms do. They can be raised 

 from seeds, and by obtaining packets from the best sources, saving 

 those plants producing good flowers, and propagating from offsets, 

 a good strain can be originated with but little trouble. 



The Herbaceous Calceolaria. — Sow about the middle of 

 July in pots of light rich soil made film, water with a fine-rosed 

 pot ; and when the soil has had time to settle, scatter the seeds 

 thinly on the damp surface, cover lightly with silver sand, place 

 a square of glass over the top of the pot, standing it in a 

 close place, and shade from bright sun ; a close handlight will do. 

 If the pots are plunged in Cocoa - fibre, no watering will be 

 required till the seeds germinate, which, if they are good and new, 

 will be in about a fortnight. Prick oft' into boxes of light rich soil 

 when large enough, and transfer to a cool close frame, placed at 

 the north side of a fence. As soon as the leaves of the plants 

 meet, transfer them to single pots, and shift on as they require 

 more space, still following up the cool treatment till October, when 

 they shoidd be taken to a cool house, where only heat enough is 

 employed to keep out frost. Calceolarias are at all times rather 

 chary of bright sunshine, and if much exposed to it the leaves lose 

 that beautiful deep -green colom* which is such a set-oflf to the 

 brilliant blossoms so freely produced in spring by healthy plants. 

 The plants during the growing season must not be allowed to 

 become pot -bound, and much injury will be done if they ever 

 suffer for want of water. If they must at any time occupy a 

 position on a stage, cover the stage with green Moss. About 

 equal parts of turfy loam and manure, with a sprinkling of charcoal 

 dust, is the best compost for them, and they need not be potted 

 quite so firmly as is desirable for most plants. Calceolarias will 

 succeed very weU in a house with a north aspect, moving them 

 into the conservatory to flower. Of course the hardier the plants 



