AND CONSEETATOET. 157 



have satisfactory results when the plants are kept starving in 

 the same put for several years and not pruned, yliift them in 

 the sprins:, and after they are well rooted water alternately 

 ■with weak liquid manure. After they go out of bloom keep 

 them rather dry at the roots for a short time, and then prune 

 all the young shoots back to within two buds of the old wood. 

 As the season will be advanced, assist them to start into 

 growth quickly with the aid of a mild bottom-heat and 

 the temperature of an intermediate house. To prevent the 

 flowers been hidden with foliage, as is frequently the case, 

 remove the shoots which start just below the flower-buds as 

 soon as they begin to push. Besides hiding the flowers, they 

 deprive them of a considerable share of support, and their 

 removal is therefore of considerable importance. Good turfy 

 loam three parts, peat one part, and well-decayed manure or 

 leaf-mould one part, form a suitable compost. 



PiMELEA. — These deserve all the attention necessary to 

 produce good plants. They may be propagated by means of 

 cuttings when the new growth is partly ripe, but they are 

 difiicult to increase. Shift such as require that attention early 

 in the spring, and after the flowers have faded place them out 

 of doors to mature the young growth. The most suitable 

 compost is prepared by mixing together three parts peat, one 

 part loam, and half a part of silver sand. 



OxTLOBiuii. — There is nothing special in the cultivation of 

 these interesting plants. They require sandy peat as a com- 

 post, well-drained pots, and a light and airy position in the 

 greenhouse. They may be placed in the open air during the 

 summer. 



Seeissa. — A small group of white flowering shrubs nearly 

 hardy, and therefore valuable for cool houses. The soil should 

 be sandy loam full of fibre or good peat. The best are 

 >S^. multiplex, bearing double flowers, and S'. fcetida foliis 

 aureo-marginafa, which is a very pretty plant in spite of its 

 elongated name. These are well adapted for planting out in 

 a border in an unheated conservatory, as they grow freely and 

 take care of themselves. They are neat and lively plants, 

 though not showy. 



