224 THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS 



them on heat and are successful, but the heat must be very moderate, 

 and even then we regard the practice as dangerous. Place the plants 

 near the glass, and at one end of the house where they will obtain 

 plenty of side light as well as light from above. During severe 

 frosts it may be well to draw them back or remove them to a shelf 

 lower down and towards the centre of the house, but they must be 

 restored as soon as possible to the fullest light obtainable, as they 

 have to do all their growth under glass. The more air that can 

 safely be given the better, and dispense with fire-heat if a temperature 

 of 45 to 55 can be maintained without it. Remove every decayed 

 leaf as it appears. 



When growth commences in the spring, which will generally be 

 early in March, give each plant its final shift into 8- or lo-inch pots. 

 This must be done before the buds push up, or there will be more foliage 

 than flowers. The following is the compost we advise : one bushel 

 good yellow loam, half-bushel leaf-soil, one gallon silver sand, quarter 

 pint Button's Concentrated Manure, quarter pint soot well mixed a 

 few days before use. Any sourness in the soil will be fatal to flowering. 

 The mould must be carefully ' firmed ' into the pots, but no severe 

 pressure should be employed, or the roots will not run freely. Neg- 

 lect as to temperature or humidity will have to be paid for in long 

 joints, green fly, red spider, or in some other way. But there are no 

 plants of high quality that grow more thriftily if protected from cold 

 winds and kept clean by free use of the syringe. A light airy 

 greenhouse is their proper place, and they must have ample head- 

 room. 



Until the pots are filled with roots give no manure water of any 

 kind, but then it may be administered until the blooms show. Tie 

 out the plants about a fortnight before flowering ; and during the 

 period of full display, give pure soft water only. 



It may be that a few large specimens are required. In this case 

 shift the most promising into 6-size pots, and when the pots are 

 filled with roots, not before, give regular supplies of liquid manure 

 until the bloom is well up. If the drainage is good and the plants 

 thriving, a rather strong beverage will suit them. The size of the 

 leaves will in great degree indicate and correspond with the size and 

 quantity of the flowers. For all ordinary purposes, however, plants 

 may be allowed to flower in lo-inch pots, and for these one shift 

 after the winter is sufficient. 



