PETUNIA. 



363 



PHILLYREA. 



Propagation by Seeds. The seeds should 

 be sown in light sandy soil that is fairly 

 rich, and sprinkled over with a slight 

 covering of the same mould when sown. 

 When large enough to transplant, shift 



SINGLE PETUNIA, SHOWING HABIT OF PLANT. 



from the pot or seed pan in which they 

 have been raised into smaller pots ; 3-inch 

 pots will do, although even smaller sizes 

 may be used, and in these they may remain 

 until they are required for planting out. If 

 they remain in pots for some little time 

 before they are planted out, they should be 

 pinched in order to induce shrubby habit 

 of growth. 



Propagation by Cuttings. Cuttings taken 

 in August and planted in a south border, in 

 soil with which some sand and rotten manure 

 from a spent hotbed have been incorporated 

 will soon root and be ready for transfer to 

 pots at the end of September. They should 

 be wintered in a pit or cold frame, round 

 which sufficient litter should be placed, 

 with mats, &c., or other suitable means of 

 protection over the glass, to keep out the 

 frost. When in this position and condition, 

 they will need but little water, for they 

 should be kept as dry as possible, having 

 due regard to the sustention of their vitality. 

 Air should be given when the weather is 

 fine and dry ; if any signs of mildew show 

 themselves, they should be dusted with 

 sulphur. Old plants should be subjected 

 to the same treatment to preserve them 

 through the winter. If started in February 



in gentle heat, they will soon send out 

 shoots which may be taken off and struck 

 in seed pans, well drained and filled with 

 light sandy soil, in warm bottom heat. 

 The soil in which the cuttings are placed 

 should be kept moist. 



Soil, &c. For a useful compost for 

 petunias, use six parts of rich fibrous loam, 

 two parts of leaf mould, one part of decom- 

 posed cow manure, and one part of sharp 

 sand. Incorporate all well together, and 

 let the compost lay by for some weeks 

 before using. Petunias that remain in pots 

 should be shifted in the spring into 6-inch 

 pots, in which they will bloom. Liquid 

 manure may be given when they are about 

 to come into blossom. 



Varieties. Good bedding petunias with 

 double blossoms will be found in Alba 

 Fimbriata, white, with fringed petals, and 

 Crimson King. For a full list of varieties 

 recourse should be had to growers and 

 nurserymen's price lists. 



Philadelphia. See Syringa. 



Phillyrea. 



Of Phillyreas there are several sorts, all 



FLOWER OF DOUBLE PETUNIA. 



of which, from their dark, shiny leaves, 

 form excellent masses, and grow freely in 

 almost any soil. All plants belonging to 

 this genus are white-flowered, but the 



