Jan. 



THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Cinerarias are when one sees a well-grown batch of 

 them flowering in a public garden, such as Kew, on 

 a winter day. Especially does one admire the Star 

 Cineraria, with its graceful habit and abundance of bright 

 flowers. My present hint is concerned with the treat- 

 ment of developed plants. I will deal with sowing at 

 the proper time. In the first place, it should be re- 

 membered that a high, moist temperature is bad. The 

 plants enjoy a cool, rather dry air. Note the buoyant, 

 bracing, spicy atmosphere of the beautiful " flowering 

 house " in Kew Gardens, and you will appreciate my 



point. A temperature of 

 40° to 45° is quite warm 

 enough. The plants should 

 only be watered when the 

 soil becomes nearly dry, 

 but it must not be allowed 

 to get, and remain, quite 

 dry. A dose of liquid 

 manure may be given once 

 a week. Florists sell tins 

 of fertiliser, a pinch of 

 which may be sown on the 

 surface and watered in. 



Blue Lobelias. — There 

 are still plenty of people 



left in the world who use 

 Fig. s.— Cuttings FROM Stock Plants ^ , ,. 



OF Blue Lobelia. blue Lobelias for borders 



a. Old plant in pot. Jq 

 i. A good cutting prepared by removing 



the two lowest leaves (see dark lines), although 



c. An unsuitable cutting, bearing flowers. , 1 >> r 1 • 1 •. 



^ ^ border, of which it 



formed a part, no longer enjoys its former favour. 



Those who have old Lobelia plants in autumn generally 



pot them, put them on a shelf in the greenhouse, and 



26 



the flower garden, 

 the "ribbon 



