The Cultivation of the Cyclamen. 413 



the open air, that they may grow hardy and stunted. The 

 plants so treated will make good plants for potting off the 

 next year. 



As the plants show signs of becoming dormant, water 

 must be withheld to a great extent until the following season. 

 They will recommence growth about the latter end of March 

 or the beginning of April. As soon as this is observed, they 

 must be turned out of the thumb-pots and shifted into three- 

 inch or four-inch pots, according to their size, using the 

 compost a little coarser than that employed for the young 

 seedlings. Select those only for shifting that have begun to 

 grow. After shifting, keep them close for some time, admit- 

 ting a little air in the middle of the day, but shutting them 

 up early in the afternoon, to raise the internal temperature. 

 After they begin to root round the sides of the pots, they 

 must have a little manure water. Cow-dung will form the 

 most suitable liquid for them, and it should be prepared thus : 

 — to three gallons of soft water add half a spadeful of the 

 dung, which will make it strong enough for them ; this must 

 be well stirred up two or three times, and then allowed to 

 settle, the clear liquid only being given to the plants. This 

 manure must only be given them when they are in full 

 health and growing freely or blooming ; and must be no 

 more applied after there is the least sign of the decay of the 

 leaves. From this period all the water they require, which 

 will be but little, must be given to them in a pure state ; and 

 the proportion will vary according to the stage at which the 

 resting process is arrived. By the time the plants are quite 

 matured, they will, if kept in a frame, require scarcely any 

 water ; the dampness of the frame will most likely keep 

 them moist enough. In this case the pots should be laid on 

 their sides, in order that they may not catch any drip from 

 the sashes during wet weather ; they may remain in this 

 position until the following spring. It is to be understood 

 that the plants are not to be dried off completely, or so far as 

 to destroy all the leaves. If the plants have to be rested in 

 a greenhouse, the shelves of which afford a very convenient 

 place for the process, they must not stand through the resting 



