General Notices. 325 



years old. In February, place them therefore in a moist temperature of 

 about 50 or 55 dcg., and keep them freely supplied with water. As soon 

 as they commence growing, examine the state of their roots, and if they re- 

 quire more pot room, shift into pots two sizes larger, and water very care- 

 fully after potting, for a week or two, until the roots have got hold of the 

 fresh soil. During this time a sprinkling over head, morning and evening, 

 will be beneficial. When they have completed their growth, which will 

 probably be in about t^vo months after placing them in warmth, it will be 

 advisable to pinch out the points of the shoots and remove the plants to a 

 cooler and more airy place, where the young wood will be ripened, and the 

 buds become plump. If the plants are allowed to remain in this situation 

 for a month, and be then placed in a moist and rather warm pit or frame, 

 they will break into free growth, and should be shaded from the mid-day 

 sun, while the wood and leaves are young and tender. Any that may ap- 

 pear to have filled their pots with roots should be examined and re-potted, 

 if necessary, but the Daplnie sliould never be overpotted ; it is very impa- 

 tient of stagnant moisture at the roots, and over-potting is not the best 

 method of avoiding that. As soon as the growth is completed, begin to 

 inure the plants to a drier atmosphere, exposing them to more air and sun- 

 shine, so as to secure the perfect ripening of the wood, and the production 

 of blossoms. The formation of flower-buds will be indicated by the termi- 

 nal buds becoming large and firm, and when this is the case the plants may 

 be removed to a sheltered situation out of doors, or, if late in the season, to 

 the greenhouse. 



All that can properly be done this season to secure a succession of blos- 

 som, will be to place the most forward plants in the warmest part of the 

 greenhouse, and leave the others to bloom later. As soon as they have 

 done flowering, remove them to an airy place in the greenhouse, and shorten 

 the stronger shoots, so as to secure a compact bushy habit of growth, and 

 allow them to remain in this situation for about a month, or till the buds 

 become plump. They may then be treated as recommended for last grow- 

 ing season, except that when the first growth is matured, they may be re- 

 moved to a sheltered corner out of doors. To provide for a long succession 

 of bloom, after February the plants must be introduced, at intervals, to a 

 growing temperature, some being left to make their growth in the green- 

 house. Those induced to start about the end of February will flower 

 about the end of September or early in October, and with a little care in 

 keeping the most forward plants in the closest part of the greenhouse, tfec, 

 there will be no difficulty in keeping up the supply of flower till May. The 

 peculiarly agreeable fragrance of this Daphne renders it, at any season, a 

 special favorite with all lovers of sweet flowers ; but if a few plants in 

 bloom can be placed in the conservatory in October, when there will sel- 

 dom be any necessity for giving much air till after the family have paid 

 the house their morning visit, the atmosphere will be loaded with most 

 agreeable fragrance. The odor of the plant is not so perceptible in a cold 

 house, or where there is a free circulation of air, but when placed in a 

 moderately close atmosphere it is very powerful. 



