On the Cultivation of the Genus Calceolaria. 215 



to save a kind of which there already exists several superior 

 ones. 



We have now in fine bloom several plants which we raised 

 from seeds sown last season. Having succeeded tolerably well in 

 our mode of culture, a few remarks we have thought would not be 

 unappropriate at this time, and, perhaps, call more attention to this 

 fine family. Seeds are procured from any of the species or varie- 

 ties by dusting the pollen on the stigma at the time they are in 

 bloom. Two distinct colors impregnated together would be more 

 likely to produce beautiful new kinds than two very similar ones. 

 When the seed is ripe, it should be immediately sown in pots, filled 

 with a compost of sandy loam and leaf mould broken up very fine 

 or sifted. The seeds are exceedingly small and will not vegetate 

 in a coarse soil. Cover them very thinly with the compost, barely 

 sufficient to permit the sun and air from drying the seeds too much, 

 and place the pot in a rather shady place, and keep it well wa- 

 tered ; giving, however, but little at a time through a watering pot 

 with a very fine rose, or else the seeds will be all washed away. 

 In the course of three weeks or a month, the young plants will 

 make their appearance above the soil. When they have two rough 

 leaves, they should be potted oft' into small pots (number one's) in 

 the same compost in which the seeds were sown, and placed away 

 in a shady situation. It frequently happens that all the seeds do 

 not come up at one time ; when this is the case, the largest plants 

 should be taken out very carefully with a small sharp pointed stick 

 or with a knife, so as not to disturb the soil more than possible ; in 

 this way proceed until all the plants which may appear during the 

 summer, are potted off". During the season no particular care is 

 necessary but to keep them duly watered and shaded partially 

 from the sun ; they should also be placed where the worms cannot 

 enter the pots. 



Upon the approach of cold weather they should be removed in- 

 to the green-house with the other plants. Place them upon a dry 

 shelf, where they will receive the benefit of the light and air, as 

 they are impatient of a confined atmosphere ; water them occasion- 

 ally as they may require, which, in the winter season, is generally 

 about twice a week ; if any of the plants, which were first potted, 

 have grown to a tolerably strong size when they are put into the 

 green-house, they should be shifted into number two pots. No 

 other care is requisite until they begin to grow in the month of 

 February or March. 



As soon as the plants show signs of growing, in the spring, they 

 should be frequently looked at and supplied more freely with water. 

 A compost should also then be prepared to repot the plants in ; for 

 this purpose, one similar to that recommended for sowing the seeds 

 in, but richer will do very well for the herbaceous kinds, and may 

 be mixed together as follows : — one half well decomposed hot-bed 



