488 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



the pots are filled with roots attention must be paid to the subject 

 of drainage. This is best promoted by arranging the crocks care- 

 fully in layers in such a manner that the outlet hole is kept open, 

 and by placing immediately over the crocks a layer of fibrous 

 material so as to prevent the drainage from being choked by fine 

 soil from above. The compost for the final potting ought to be 

 thoroughly porous. It should be made up of fine yellow loam and 

 leaf mould three parts to two is the proper proportion and a 

 fair quantity of silver sand. 



When new growth becomes vigorous, water must be given 

 regularly, and when the buds appear weak doses of liquid manure 

 applied two or three times a week will be found admirably stimu- 

 lating. Above all, extremes of temperature must be avoided. 

 An average of 45 to 55 is ample, but at the same time frost 

 must be excluded from the house at all costs. 



COLEUS. Among the many plants that are cherished in the 

 greenhouse for their brilliant foliage alone the coleus takes a high 

 place. Its culture is fairly easy, the chief essentials being warmth 

 during the cold dark days and nights of winter, and plenty of 

 air when the conditions become more congenial. The plant is 

 easily propagated by taking cuttings if a little bottom heat 

 can be supplied. 



Diagram 82 gives a useful hint or two with regard to the 

 cultural treatment of the coleus. Where the plants are growing 

 tall and lanky, as in Figure 1, or are becoming misshapen, as in 

 Figure 2, they should be trimmed at A. The resulting shoots need 

 not be thrown away. If they are placed in thumb pots and kept 

 in the greenhouse on a shelf near the glass they will soon strike 

 and become established plants. Meantime the pruning of the 

 parent plants will result in the throwing out of side shoots, which 

 will help to make them shapely and bushy. 



Coleus may also be grown from seed sown in heat in March or 

 April, but propagation by cuttings in the early months of the 

 year is an easier and surer method for the amateur who lacks 

 facilities for maintaining a proper amount of warmth in his green- 

 house. 



