" MALMAISONS " 37 



layers in the latter. By this means Malmaison shoots can 

 be layered some weeks before the plants are in flower, 

 and be rooted and potted off before it is possible to have 

 them even layered by the present system. It is quite 

 possible, of course, to layer shoots at any season of the 

 year, but what is referred to at present is the mass of 

 summer flowering plants from which the succeeding 

 year's stock must necessarily be produced. (For Propa- 

 gation, v. Chapter X.) 



It will, perhaps, be most convenient to make the stage 

 when the layer is ready to be potted up, the starting-point 

 from which to detail the necessary cultural remarks. 

 First, as to soil. Experience proves that the Malmaison 

 is not at all exacting as to soil. At the same time, a 

 fibrous loam, particularly a loam that is naturally friable 

 when the fibrous portion has decayed, is best suited to 

 its requirements. The compost must by all means be 

 what gardeners term open, and sand, to render it so 

 beyond suspicion, must be added when necessary. A 

 portion of really good peat is in some cases advantageous, 

 and some growers like leaf-mould, a material I have 

 generally eschewed. As to manure, I cannot advise its 

 employment. If, however, considered essential, I would 

 use either dry cow-dung, rubbed down to a very fine 

 condition, or manure that had lain so long as to become 

 rotted almost to a mould, also rubbed down or passed 

 through a quarter-inch sieve. In selecting pots, it should 

 be remembered that the Malmaison succeeds most satis- 

 factorily when not straitened for room at root. True, it is 

 possible to produce nice stuff in pots comparatively small, 

 but if those of respectively five, six, and seven inches 

 diameter are selected, it is found that the strongest plants 

 in the end are those in the largest size. In potting up 

 layers, four- or five-inch pots are suitable, which ought to 

 be drained efficiently by means of very finely broken 

 potsherds. Compress the soil moderately firmly, and be 



