92 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



pricked out into a bed, about five inches apart, supplied 

 with a frame, so as to be wintered there, and many will 

 show bloom the following year, when the good ones may be 

 potted and placed with the florists' flowers, and the others 

 transferred to the border. 



Soil. Take one part of dry, well-rotted old cow manure, 

 free from worms, add to this two parts of well rotted grass 

 : sods, with a little sharp sand. If cow manure is not procurable 

 manure from an old hot-bed will answer, but it must be at 

 least two years old. Blend well together, and pass through 

 a % inch mesh riddle. The compost will then be ready 

 for use. 



Time and Method of Potting. The best time for re- 

 potting will be soon after the blooming season has passed. 

 This will probably be towards the end of January. If 

 potted much earlier there is a danger of the flower-stems 

 .showing early in Winter before they are required, if much 

 later, the roots will not have occupied the main soil suffi- 

 ciently before Winter. In turning the plants out of the pots 

 .after blooming, shake out all the old earth, shorten back the 

 longest roots and thin out the weakest ones ; place a few 

 crocks in the bottom of the pot with an inch of rough soil or 

 bits of broken sods over them. Place some compost in the 

 pot, hold the plant in it with the left hand, regulate the 

 roots all over the space nicely, and shake the soil among 

 them, settling it by striking the pot on the bench, and then 

 firm the soil a little with the fingers, and especially near the 

 collar or stem of the plant. Place the pots on a raised 

 platform, on rough coal ashes, beneath the lights of the 

 frame, which should be set with a south-west aspect, water 

 with a fine rose, and keep them rather close, and shaded 

 from the mid-day sun for a fortnight or three weeks. 



Summer Treatment. As soon as fresh growth is pro- 

 ceeding the shading may be dispensed with. More air may 

 be given at first, and then the sashes may be taken oft 

 completely ; the frame being elevated on bricks, that the air 

 may have free access all round the pots. Let waterings be 

 duly given, the surface soil frequently stirred, decayed leaves 

 removed, and slugs and worms hunted out. If the position 



