67 



"Water is poured round the edges of the pots, and 

 if exposed to heavy rains, the superfluous wet runs 

 to the sides, and more readily passes away. 



If any plant produces more than one principal 

 stem, pinch off the pips of the smallest and weakest, 

 in order to render the blossoms of that remaining 

 larger and more vigorous. It is a curious fact, that 

 those sorts which are naturally possessed of a fine 

 green on the edge or margin of the flower are often 

 known to lose that property when the stem proceeds 

 from the very heart or centre of the plant ; whereas 

 those stems that proceed from the side produce larger 

 pips, possessing their true natural colours in much 

 greater perfection; these last are called the winter 

 stems, because they are usually forwarder, and pro- 

 duce their flowers rather earlier in the season than 

 those which proceed from the centre of the plant.* 



When the pips become turgid and begin to expand, 

 they must be preserved from rain, nor should they re- 

 main any longer in a situation exposed to cold winds ; 

 but such plants ought to be removed to a sheltered, 

 shady corner, and have small hand-glasses suspended 

 over them in such a manner as to preserve the 

 bloom from rain, &c., and yet admit a free circula- 

 tion of air. {Maddocky \\7 .) 



* It is a singular fact, that a winter truss of Lee's Colonel 

 Taylor is generally finer for an exhibition than any other, and 

 when caught in time rarely fails to take a first prize. 

 f2 



