98 THE amateue's greenhouse 



of coal-ashes in a cold frame. After the pots are well filled 

 with roots, but before the plants have become pot-bound, shift 

 them into five-inch pots, and as soon as they are well estab- 

 lished in these, shift again ; the strongest plants into eight- 

 inch pots, and the others into pots one size larger, and that will 

 be the last shift they will require. 



The most suitable compost in which to grow these plants is 

 one prepared by well incorporating together three parts turfy 

 loam, and a fourth part consisting of equal quantities of 

 decayed manure and leaf-mould. To this add a liberal sprink- 

 ling of sand, and if the loam is deficient in fibre, or the leaf- 

 mould is not available, a small proportion of cocoa-nut fibre 

 refuse may be added, to assist in keeping the mass open. It is 

 scarcely necessary to say that the pots must be effectually 

 drained to prevent the soil becoming sour. 



After the plants have recovered from the effects of their 

 removal from the seed-pan to the small pots, ventilate freely 

 both night and day throughout the season, and until danger 

 from frost may be apprehended, and then remove them to a cool 

 and moderately airy house. The plants should be shaded from 

 the direct rays of the sun during the months of June, July, and 

 August. A mat thrown over the glass during the middle of 

 the day when the sun is shining brightly, is all that is necessary 

 in the form of shade. 



"Water carefully at all seasons, but more especially during 

 the winter months. The best system of watering is to give 

 sufficient to moisten every particle of soil within the pot, and 

 then give no more until the soil has become somewhat dry 

 again. Avoid the use of stimulants, and use soft water only. 

 Liberal supplies of liquid manure are advised by some writers, 

 but our advice is that it be not used at all, for it is more likely 

 to do harm than good. 



The whole stock should have a temperature of about 45° or 

 50° throughout the winter, as the plants from the second sowing 

 will grow freely during that season. To produce large speci- 

 mens, and also to prolong the season of flowering over as 

 lengthened a period as possible, nip out the first flower-buds 

 of the strongest plants of the second batch immediately they 

 are sufficiently advanced. Do not attempt to keep plants a 

 second season, no matter how promising they may appear, for 

 if they remain in health, the flowers are always small in size 

 and poor in colour, compared with young plants. There is no 



