84 THE amateue's greenhouse 



after flowering dies. In the cultivation of this fine plant the 

 principal matter of importance is to guard against giving it the 

 slightest check at any stage of its growth, the roots being of 

 delicate texture, and having no power of recovery from injury. 

 In February sow the seed singly in small pots filled with a 

 mixture of three parts powdery peat and one part sand, and 

 place in the coolest part of a stove, or the very warmest corner 

 of the greenhouse. When the plants have made their third 

 joint shift into forty-eight size using the same soil as before but 

 in a rather lumpy state. When the roots have fairly filled the 

 pots the plants must be put out on a border in a cool conser- 

 vatory in a position where they will enjoy abundance of sun- 

 shine. The border should be prepared by opening a trench 

 two feet deep, laying at the bottom a bed of small empty flower- 

 pots placed bottom upwards on a similar bed of cheap tunnel- 

 shaped drain pipes, and filling up with a mixture of the very 

 best turfy peat and a fifth part sand. In this plant carefully, 

 leaving the collar of every plant a little above the level. 

 Water cautiously, keeping the roots always moist but never 

 wet, and train out the growths from the first to a light trellis a 

 foot from the glass. One plant will, in most cases, be suffi- 

 cient for an ordinary conservatory. If grown in a pot a very 

 large one must be chosen, and the plant put into it at one 

 shift from forty-eight size, as it will not bear frequent disturb- 

 ance of the roots. 



Cyclamen. — The lovely G. Persicum has become one of the 

 most popular plants of its class within the past few years in 

 consequence of the improved method of cultivation we initiated 

 in 1863, when the "rapid culture" system was announced in 

 the " Garden Oracle." Previously, it had been customary with 

 growers to " dry ofl"" the corms, and in so doing dry half the 

 life out of them, but we pointed out the folly of this procedure, 

 and those who acted on our advice made such wondrous dis- 

 plays of cyclamens at the horticultural exhibitions in London 

 that the slower class of gardeners were at last convinced. The 

 instructions that follow are few but sufficient ; those who will 

 follow them faithfully will have good reason to rejoice in due 

 time. 



The only safe way to begin is with the best seed that can 

 be obtained. Cyclamens may be increased by division of the 

 corma (or bulbs), but it is a difficult process and we should 



