260 On the CuUure of the Daphne Odora. 



turfy loam, sandy peat, and well decomposed leaf-mould, in 

 about equal quantities, together with what is indispensable 

 to success under any circumstances — a thorough drainage, 

 to ensure a free passage for the escape of superfluous water. 



After having been shifted and arranged, it will be better to 

 keep them for a short time a little closer than usual, till the 

 roots begin to lay hold of the fresh soil ; and most particu- 

 larly to guard against over-watering, till the roots have found 

 their way to the sides of the pots, otherwise the soil will be- 

 come sodden, and the roots perish in consequence. As a gen- 

 eral rule at this stage, no more water ought to be given than 

 just sufficient to keep the plants from flagging. They will 

 nevertheless be very much assisted by being gently syringed 

 mornings and evenings. About the end of May or beginning 

 of June, the plants which were shifted in the spring may be 

 supposed to be again well established in their pots, and grow- 

 ing freely ; if so, occasional waterings of weak liquid manure 

 will very much encourage a healthy action, and enable them 

 to form large trusses of flowers in autumn. But to old plants, 

 with their pots pretty full of roots, liquid manure may be ap- 

 plied with advantage from the time they commence growing. 

 Or what answers a very good purpose is, a good mulching of 

 half decomposed cow or sheep's dung, through which all the 

 water applied to the plants must pass, and consequently car- 

 rying with it a certain portion of the fertilizing properties of 

 the dung to the roots ; and, by preventing evaporation in some 

 degree, will so much encourage the roots nearest the surface, 

 that the dung, at the end of a few weeks, will generally be 

 found matted by them. 



A practice prevails with some gardeners of placing their 

 Daphnes out of doors, with other greenhouse plants, during 

 summer. But. unless the means be at hand of protecting 

 them from the direct rays of the sun on the hottest days of 

 summer, and heavy drenching rains in autumn, no advantage 

 will be gained by adopting such a course: as they will be 

 found to succeed much better in a pit, where shading can be 

 easily applied when necessary, taking the lights off" in the 

 evening to give the plants the benefit of the night dews, and 

 putting them on again in the morning, before the sun gets too 

 powerful; admitting plenty of air during the day, to make 

 the plants stiff" and short-jointed. 



