General Management of the Calceolaria. 175 



above, only the soil may be used a little coarser. Plant them 

 about an inch apart, and shade them carefully, and keep close 

 for about a week, when they may be allowed a little air. As 

 soon as they begin to crowd each other, they may either be 

 planted again into boxes wider apart than at first, or potted 

 singly in three inch pots. If the plants are strong, they may 

 be potted singly with safety ; the young roots incline to run 

 near the surface of the soil, so this must never be allowed to 

 get dry and hard. About the middle of October, place them 

 in the greenhouse, on shelves near the glass ; water them care- 

 fully during winter, and fumigate occasionally with tobacco, 

 to keep them clear of insects. 



About the month of February, shift them into six inch 

 pots, in a soil of equal parts fibrous loam, leaf-mould, and 

 rotted dung; drain these well, and turn out the young plants 

 carefully, without injuring the roots ; pot them deep enough 

 to allow the fresh soil to come well up round the neck of the 

 plants, for here they will emit numerous roots. They must now 

 be judiciously supplied with water, and sprinkled overhead 

 every morning, just as the sun reaches them. As they push 

 up their flower-stems, secure them with a small stake, and, 

 when coming into flower, shade them from bright sun, and 

 let them have all the air possible, night and day. 



They are easily propagated by the following treatment : — 

 As soon as the blooming season is past, cut down the flower 

 stems, and pick ofi" all withered and decaying leaves. Select 

 a quiet, shady situation out of doors, and plunge the pots well 

 down in the soil, and fill up among the shoots with leaf- 

 mould. Moisten the soil occasionally if the weather be dry; 

 they will now throw out roots at every shoot ; these shoots 

 should then be taken ofi" and potted separately, in three inch 

 potSj in a mixture of light loam and leaf-mould. Place them 

 under glass, where they can be kept close and shaded, and 

 they will immediately start and grow rapidly ; but, if exposed 

 to currents of air, the juices of the leaves will be exhausted 

 before the roots are strong and plentiful enough to supply the 

 deficiency. When placed in their winter quarters, be careful, 

 in watering, not to allow any to drop on the leaves ; ex- 

 amine the plants, and if the pots are filled with roots, give 

 them a shift ; this will allow the roots to increase, and the 



