The Guava ; its Cultivaiion and Management. 37 



make fine plants. The speediest mode is by cuttings, which 

 may be rooted in hght sandy soil, in a little bottom heat, and 

 afterwards potted off into small pots, in the compost in which 

 they are to grow. 



General Management. 



Supposing the young plants to have been raised as just di- 

 rected, they should be potted off into four inch pots; when 

 the pots are filled with roots, they should have a shift into 

 the next size, and, if exceedingly vigorous, they niay have a 

 third shift the first year: but if not, omit it till the second 

 year, when the same treatment should be continued ; shifting 

 into a larger size as soon as the pots are filled with roots. 

 Early in the spring of the third year, they may be placed in 

 large pots or tubs, in which they may remain to fruit, for four 

 or five years, having occasional top dressings. Pots or tubs, 

 holding a half-bushel of soil, are of ample size, as the plants 

 bear more abundantly to have the roots somewhat confined. 

 The compost should be about two thirds good rich loamy soil, 

 and one third well decomposed manure, with a very small 

 quantity of sand. Water liberally, when the plants are in 

 full growth, and occasionally with liquid manure : syringe 

 the foliage freely during the summer. 



The ]ilants may remain in the greeidiouse during the sum- 

 mer : and the higher temperature will give a richer flavor to 

 the fruit. Where there is the convenience of the hothouse, 

 the late crop may be ripened oft' in all the perfection of the 

 early one. But even in the greenhouse they ripen sufficient- 

 ly, to acquire the peculiar flavor for which the Guava is so 

 celebrated. After the fruit is gathered, the plants may be 

 allowed to rest : placing them in a cool part of the house, and 

 watering rather sparingly, until the season when they show 

 signs of growing again. They should then be removed to a 

 warm and sunny situation, and have more liberal supplies of 

 water; when the fruit is well set, syringe freely at all times, 

 and pursue the same routine of treatment as in the previous 

 year. 



A plant of such easy management, producing such luscious 

 fruit, and, at the same time, so highly ornamental, should 'be 

 found ill every good collection. 



