iv.] USES VARIOUS AS THE SEASONS 23 



the best plan is to stow away the pots in a frame under 

 a south wall for August and September giving no water 

 then carry back to the greenhouse and keep dry till 

 the end of March ; from April to July giving plenty 

 of water. They seldom need repotting. 



When Zonal Pelargoniums are properly managed 

 they will be one of the chief features of the house all 

 through winter and spring. There should be two or three 

 sets of them potted respectively in anticipation say, 

 in March, July, and September in good, rich soil, not 

 allowed to get too dry, and all the strong shoots nipped 

 in, so as to throw the strength into the flower trusses. 

 Those I have found best are Henry Jacoby, Countess of 

 Derby, Athlete, Plutarch, Niphetos, Queen of the Belgians, 

 Lizzie Constable, Surprise de Nain, Antoine Barton, Aurora 

 Borealis, Raspail, Juliet, Paul Campelle. 



Chinese Primulas (Primula Sinensis] are, perhaps, 

 amongst the most popular of all winter and early spring 

 greenhouse plants ; they are now grown with all the 

 tints of the rainbow white, rose, magenta, and carmine, 

 crimson and spotted, double and single. If sowings have 

 been made in succession between March and May, while 

 there has been bottom heat in the frame, or young plants 

 obtained from nurserymen, they will be sure to bloom 

 from November to Easter. The proper compost for them 

 is, three parts good old rotten sods broken with the 

 hand, one part old cow-dung and leaf-mould mixed, and 



