86 SUMMER TREATMENT WATERING AND SHELTER. 



the connecting part, or rliizoma, and no lower, or the roots will 

 be cut also. Then with the hand gently separate the parts cut 

 off, and the roots will divide away from each other without 

 injury. Eepot both the parent and the offspring immediately 

 in proportionate-sized pots, and cultivate afterwards in the usual 

 way. 



SUMMER TREATMENT. This period of the culture of those 

 interesting plants commences as soon as they begin to grow, and 

 ends when they go to rest. The summer operations consist of 

 watering, sheltering, tying up the flowers, weeding, and stirring 

 the surface of the soil when that becomes hardened and grown 

 over with lichens. On each of those points I shall briefly 

 write, in order to show the amateur the proper way to conduct 

 them. 



Watering. This necessary operation, especially for such as are 

 grown in pots, I have already adverted to ; but I may remark in 

 addition that the quantity required should be given according to 

 the need of plants. In the early months of the year, whilst the 

 vegetation is slow and young, very small supplies of water will 

 be required, and that at wide intervals. If kept in this early 

 stage of growth very wet, the young roots, and probably the 

 young shoots also, will damp off, and the plants will perish : 

 therefore, let the surface of the soil become dry before water is 

 given, and then only just sufficient to wet the soil. Let this 

 water be absorbed before the next is given. As the foliage 

 advances in growth more water may be given ; and when the 

 leaves are fully expanded and the blooms beginning to open, then 

 a liberal supply must be given. If gentle showers are falling let 

 the plants have the benefit of them ; but at all seasons shelter 

 them from heavy continuous rains. Some strong-growing species 

 will thrive better with a watering now and then of weak liquid 

 manure, to which add a handful of quicklime to every gallon. 

 This destroys worms and slugs in both a young and full-grown 

 state. 



Skelter. If tho plants aro in pots and in a cold frame, the 



