General Management of the Calceolaria, 177 



loam, one of leaf-mould, and one of well-rotted dung; to this, 

 add another part of sand and broken charcoal. These must 

 be well mixed, but not made fine, for the roots delight to 

 ramify in rough, lumpy material. Use twelve inch pots for 

 large plants ; these must be perfectly clean, and properly 

 drained ; pick off a leaf or two from the neck of the plant, 

 and keep it well down in the pot ; make the soil moderately 

 firm, and leave plenty of room for supplying water to the 

 plant ; keep them near the light, and draw a syringe full or 

 two of water over them occasionally; this will keep them 

 fresh and clean ; and, by having the surface of the soil aways 

 a little moist, they will grow vigorously and send numerous 

 roots out of the sides of the stem, and from underneath the 

 leaves ; at the same time, see that the mass of soil does not 

 get too dry, for, although the surface of the earth may be 

 thus kept moist, the interior part may be quite dry, and the 

 plants consequently receive a check. A practised ear will 

 know when a plant requires water by the sound of the pot. 

 As the flower-stems lengthen, gradually widen and arrange 

 them, so as to allow full benefit of light and air, keeping 

 them in place, by tying neatly to light stakes. While in 

 flower, they must be kept shaded, cool, and airy. The dry, 

 arid weather of May and June will soon rob them of their 

 beauty, if attention is not paid to shading from bright sun, 

 and the atmosphere kept charged with moisture, by watering 

 the paths, under the stages, and all vacant places ; if this is 

 properly attended to, they will flower for six or eight weeks 

 in the warmest of seasons, and display beautiful masses of 

 their variously mottled, purse-like flowers. 



Plants intended for hybridizing should be placed by them- 

 selves ; any two flowers of diff'erent colors, when crossed 

 will produce innumerable intermediate varieties. With a 

 small piece of wood, sharpened thin, scrape the pollen from 

 the anther of the one, and apply it to the stigma of the other ; 

 and, where several crosses are effected upon one plant, distin- 

 guish them by threads of different colors, carefully noting 

 down the same, so that there may be no confusion when the 

 seed is ripe. Assist the plants with frequent waterings of liq- 

 uid manure, while the seed is ripening; this will ensure 



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