JANUARY 317 



hearts should never be covered. Pot off singly when large enough, 

 and shift on until the 48-size is reached. For ordinary plants this is 

 large enough, but extra fine specimens need more pot room, and 

 so long as increased space is given the flowering will be deferred. 

 Between each plant there must be a clear space, or the leaves may 

 decay through contact. While growing, a moist atmosphere, with a 

 temperature of 60 or 65, will suit them, but immediately flowering 

 commences, humidity will be a source of mischief. The forwardest 

 plants from the present sowing will begin to flower early in June if 

 well treated. 



GREVILLEA ROBUSTA. Seed of this exceedingly handsome shrub 

 may be sown at any time of the year, and the pots containing it 

 must be kept moist until the seedlings appear. How long it will be 

 before they become visible we cannot tell. Germination may not 

 occur until hope has died, and the pots have been contemptuously 

 relegated to some obscure corner. But after the young plants are 

 pricked off, they will give no trouble except to re-pot them two or 

 three times, and see that they do not perish for want of water. 



HOLLYHOCK. The named varieties which have been continuously 

 propagated by cuttings have become so feeble that disease has almost 

 swept them away. But seedlings are sufficiently robust to withstand 

 its attacks, and this grand border flower is now grown as an annual 

 or biennial, with fine double blossoms, superb in colour and of noble 

 proportions. Sow in well-drained pots or seed-pans, cover the seed 

 with a sprinkling of fine soil, and place in a temperature of 65 or 70. 

 In about a fortnight the seedlings will be ready for pricking off round 

 the edges of 4^-inch pots. 



PETUNIA. About the third week of this month, a sowing should 

 be made to produce plants for indoor decoration. Late in February 

 or early in March will be soon enough to prepare for bedding stuff. 

 Sow thinly in good porous soil, and give the pots or pans a tempera- 

 ture of about 60. They should have a little extra attention just as 

 the seed is germinating, for that is a critical time with Petunias. 

 Uniformity in temperature and moisture, with shade when necessary, 

 and plenty of pot room, are the secrets of success in growing these 

 plants. 



VERBENAS have been ruined in constitution by the needless heat 

 to which they have been subjected for generations, and the method 

 of raising them by cuttings has almost broken down. Seedlings have 

 the advantage of being strong enough to withstand mildew, to say 

 nothing of the saving effected in time and labour. The Verbena 



