328 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Cineraria continued. 



and may be easily grown in any ordinary garden Boil. 

 They may be propagated by divisions of the roots ; or, 

 better, by seed, sown in a cold frame or cool house, in 

 spring. The florist's varieties which have originated from 

 C. cruenta are among the most ornamental and useful 

 plants that can be grown for greenhouse or conservatory 

 decoration (see Fig. 453). As a packet of seed will produce 

 a great variety of colours, including all shades of blue, 

 and the plants are of tolerably easy culture, and do not 

 require much heat, they should be grown by every one 

 possessing a house where frost is excluded during winter. 

 Named sorts must be propagated by division of the roots ; 

 but, as seedlings are more vigorous, and those of a good 

 strain equal to many named kinds, the general plan is 

 to sow in succession annually, and when the plants have 

 flowered, throw them away. They are best grown in pits 

 or frames, until frost sets in, and then removed to a light, 

 airy position in the greenhouse, for winter blossoming. 



FIG. 454. CINERARIA CRUENTA WEBBERIANA. 



Seed should be sown under glass, those intended for 

 autumn flowering in April and May, those for spring in 

 July and August. Some light leaf mould should be sifted, 

 and about an equal quantity of fresh sifted loam and 

 sharp sand added ; the whole being well mixed. After 

 having drained the pans or pots, and placed some of the 

 rough siftings over the crocks, fill up with fine soil, 

 pressing tolerably firm, and afterwards finishing with a 

 smooth surface on which to sow the seed. This should 

 be scattered thinly and regularly over the surface, and 

 very slightly covered with some more of the sifted mix- 

 ture, afterwards watering it carefully with a fine-rosed 

 can. The pans may be covered with sheets of glass, and 

 placed in a shady position in the greenhouse or cold frame. 

 The glass should be tilted when the young plants appear, 

 and finally removed, to afford requisite light and air. 



Cineraria continued. 



When the seedlings are large enough to handle, they 

 should be placed separately in small pots, or pricked off 

 in other pans. They should be kept rather close for a 

 time after potting, to encourage root action, but must not 

 be exposed to much heat at any time. The best place for 

 them in summer is an ordinary garden frame, or cold pit, 

 facing north. They delight in plenty of atmospheric 

 moisture and a cool bottom, such as that afforded by a 

 layer of coal ashes. 



After Cultivation. As the plants progress, they should 

 be shifted on in suitable sizes until placed in the flowering 

 pots, as anything like starvation in the younger stages of 

 growth is very detrimental to their well-being afterwards. 

 Small decorative plants may be flowered in 5in. pots ; but 

 for larger specimens, those of 7in. or Sin. in diameter are 

 required. The final shift must be determined at the out- 

 set, and the smaller-sized pota selected so as to give about 

 an equal amount of soil each time. A much richer and 

 rougher compost may now be employed, consisting of 

 about half loam, with an addition of equal parts of leaf soil 

 and tolerably dry cow manure. The plants must be again 

 placed on ashes in a cool frame, and plenty of air admitted 

 in mild weather, at the same time avoiding draughts, 

 which are very injurious. Cinerarias like plenty of water 

 at the roots at all times, and frequent syringings in summer 

 and autumn. A thin shading will be required in bright 

 weather, as the plants will not bear exposure to sun ; it 

 should not, however, be permanent, or sufficiently thick to 

 exclude light. The plants soon become weak and drawn 

 in a dry atmosphere, consequently only enough fire heat 

 should be applied, even in winter, to exclude frost. The 

 spring-sown plants will flower in autumn and early winter ; 

 but those sown in July or August, and grown on during 

 winter, to flower the following spring, ate invariably of 

 the best quality. Named varieties that are to be per- 

 petuated by cuttings, should be cut down after flowering, 

 and be afterwards propagated by division. 



Fio. 455. CINERARIA MARITIMA. 



Insects, $c. Cinerarias are especially liable, in all 

 stages of their growth, to the attacks of green fly. The 

 frames should be fumigated frequently, but not strongly, 

 with tobacco paper, as, although the fly may not be 

 detected at first, the plants may be infested underneath 

 the young leaves. Fumigation is a certain cure, but is best 

 used as a preventive. Red spider is sometimes trouble- 

 some, but this is a sign of insufficient moisture, and the 

 remedy is of course suggested. Mildew is often caused 

 by draughts, or a confined, close atmosphere. The 

 affected parts should be dusted with flowers of sulphur. 



