128 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



hereafter described, and place it in a gentle-heated frame, or 

 pit, close to the glass. As soon as the seedlings are large 

 enough to take hold of, transplant them, six inches apart r 

 into a prepared border, rather shaded from the mid-day 

 sun. Keep them watered in dry weather, and let them 

 remain there through the Winter. They ought to flower the 

 following season. All the care they require is to keep them 

 clear from weeds and slugs. As soon as they have done 

 flowering, those worth keeping should be retained and the 

 rest discarded. 



By Division. The Polyanthus generally sends out 

 plenty of offsets. When these have made roots they may 

 be taken off the parent plant, and planted in a nursery bed, 

 or potted, if so required. Care must be taken in dividing 

 them that the stem or root-stock of the old plant is not 

 injured. 



Soil. They do well in any open rich soil. 



Spring Treatment. If grown in pots for show purposesy 

 top-dress the plants, and keep them well supplied with water. 

 A gentle syringing over the leaves will be found beneficial, 

 done early in the mornings of fine Spring days, and withheld 

 when the weather is dull, cold, and gloomy. When the 

 blooms appear they should be slightly shaded from bright 

 sunshine ; but they will bear more sun than Auriculas, 

 especially the dark-ground varieties. When the blooms are 

 fully expanded, they will last much longer if the plants are 

 placed where the sun cannot reach them during the middle 

 of the day. 



Summer Treatment. After the bloom is over, they 

 should be placed in their Summer quarters. The south side 

 of a low wall or fence is the best situation for them ; and in 

 order to prevent the attacks of the red spider, the great enemy 

 to these plants, place the pots in saucers or garden pans. 

 When watered, that portion that runs through the pots 

 remains in the pans, and by keeping the air round them 

 moist, prevents the red spider from attacking them. In 

 this situation they may remain till February. In the early 

 part of that month they should be repotted, and that is a 

 proper time to take off the offsets ; strong plants should be 

 potted into pots from six to seven inches in diameter. These 

 should be moderately drained. If the plants are already in 



