THE OPENING YEAR 



Gloxinias from Tubers. — Those who already have Jan. 

 tubers, or who prefer to buy them in order to get flowers ^~^5 

 earher than it is possible to have them from seed, may 

 start a few now if they want a batch of plants in bloom 

 in spring. But a warm house is necessary, as an un- 

 heated greenhouse might be frosted over at this time of 

 year. The grower ought to have a minimum temperature 

 of 55°. Pots from six to seven inches across, top inside 

 measurement, will be suitable. The soil may consist of 

 three parts loam, one part leaf soil, and about a twelfth 

 of coarse sand. 



Procuring Potting Soil, — I advise all growers of pot 

 plants to lay in a store of suitable soil at the outset of 

 their operations. It is a good plan to buy it in winter, 

 because it can be carted in when the ground is hard with 

 frost. Every trade florist knows what potting loam is, 

 because he uses it himself, and he will generally supply 

 it to customers. An amateur can prepare it himself by 

 buying turves, but he cannot use the latter at once, because 

 the grass is fresh. He must stack the turves in a heap 

 and leave them for several months — preferably a whole 

 year, as then the grass decays thoroughly ; moreover, 

 any eelworms and wireworms which may be ensconced 

 in the roots of the grass when it is taken up are starved 

 out. A temporary supply of leaf mould can also be got 

 from the florist, and a future supply prepared at home 

 by getting some leaves in the autumn, treading them into 

 a mass in a spare corner, and leaving them several 

 months to decay. Any local builder will supply coarse, 

 washed sand, but silver sand has generally to be got 

 from the florist. 



Star Cinerarias. — The amateur who sowed seed in 

 late spring of the previous year will now see them 

 advancing into bloom. One realises how valuable 



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