On the Culture of the Calceolaria. 493 



not attached to the culture and improvement of that beautiful 

 and singularly interesting family of plants, calceolarias ; and, 

 as I have had some experience in the management of these 

 plants, I would throw out a few hints on their culture, 

 which may be of use to at least some of your readers ; not 

 that I conceive myself able to instruct the experienced gar- 

 dener or floriculturist ; but 1 trust the observations made during 

 my experience, which has been devoted to the study and im- 

 provement of that profession to which I belong, will be re- 

 ceived with candor, and be found useful to the amateur and 

 young gardener. 



In the culture of calceolarias, I would call attention to the 

 following heads ; — 1st, Propagation by Seeds, — 2d, by Cut- 

 tings, — 3d, Soil, — 4th, Winter Management, — 5th, Summer 

 Management. 



Propagation by Seeds. 



Seeds are easily obtained from any plant, by fertilization ; 

 and, as the seedlings partake most of the parent from which 

 the seeds are gathered, it is necessary, when shrubby plants 

 are wanted, to choose the best variety of that description, and 

 impregnate some of the flowers with the pollen of different 

 calceolarias, either herbaceous or shrubby ; and, when her- 

 baceous plants are more in request, to perform the operation 

 on a good herbaceous variety. Mark the flowers which have 

 been impregnated, by tying a small piece of silk thread im- 

 mediately below the impregnated flowers, and using threads 

 of various colors, matching, or otherwise indicating the colors 

 of the flowers from whence the pollen was taken; the impreg- 

 nated blossoms are thus easily labelled ; when the seeds are 

 ripe, the operator can tell with certainty from what varieties the 

 pollen had been taken, which had rendered each pod prolific. 



In the latter part of August, or early in September, 1 sow 

 the seeds in large pans, well drained, and filled with very 

 light sandy compost. Sow the seeds on the surface, press it 

 gently down with a flat piqce of wood, and water with a fine 

 syringe or the fine rose of a watering pot ; place the pans in a 

 warm situation, being careful to shade when the sun shines, 

 and water when the soil appears rather dry ; they will soon 

 be up, and while they are small is the best time to transplant 

 them. Having ready a quantity of well-drained pots filled with. 



VOL. XIV. NO. XI. 42 



