52 THE TUBEROUS BEGOXIA. 



damp nature ; any desired amount of moisture can always be supplied arti- 

 ficially, and thus a house built entirely above the ground level, or even 

 slightly raised above it, is to be preferred to a sunken structure. -Again, a 

 lofty house suits these plants much better than a low one, particularly 

 during the flowering period. 



THE THIRD POTTING TEMPERATURE VENTILATION, ETC. 



DIRECTLY the plants again require it, they must be again re-potted ; this 

 time probably into the flowering-pots. Those now in 48's (5-inch pots) will, 

 as a rule, require what is called 24's, which are about 7J inches in diameter, 

 though any examples which are now very strong had better be allowed only 

 6-inch pots than run any risk of over-potting. Some of the larger tubers, 

 which were started in about 4 -inch sizes, and which are now in 32's, may 

 very likely need No. 16's^ or pots 9 or 10 inches across. If the plants have 

 been attended to as directed they should by this time be in a very vigorous 

 and active condition, with stout short-jointed shoots, and abundance of 

 large deep-hued foliage well down on the pot. The roots also should, on 

 turning the plants out of the pots, appear strong, and at this stage not very 

 numerous, but large, with solitary spongioles, furnished with an abundance 

 of long white hairs and a clean, active-looking point, very distinct from the 

 many-branched fibrous roots that occur later on. For this shift use much 

 the same compost as before, but in an even coarser condition, and this should 

 be made quite firm in potting ; use the rougher parts of the compost below, 

 and the fine near the surface, and make the upper part firmer than the 

 lower. 



Up to this point, and indeed until the plants are pretty well rooted out 

 in the blooming-pots, any flowers that show should be picked off as soon as 

 seen. Should anything prevent the necessary shifting at any stage being 

 done at once, keep the vigour up by a few doses of soot-water or some other 

 stimulant, but the moment the large main roots reach the sides of the pots 

 and commence to run downwards, before they branch or run round the sides 

 of the pot at all, the plant ought to be removed into a larger size that is, 

 if it is required to be grown on to a larger size. As growth advances, tie 

 each shoot out to a neat stake, placing these at equal distances, and so as 

 to admit as much air and light as possible to the centre of the plant, and 

 indeed to every leaf. Water, of course, will by this time be needed, and 

 must be given frequently and abundantly, though the supply must be restricted 

 somewhat after each potting has taken place. The temperature should range 

 from 60 to 65 by night, or never below 55 to 70 or thereabout by day. 

 Ventilation must altogether depend upon the state of ths weather outside ; 

 up to May little but top air will be needed, but this must be abundantly 

 given on bright days ; and the blind should be run down whenever the sun 

 becomes so strong as to make scorching probable. This point must be particu- 



