November Autumn Work for Summer 



The former make little bushes that become smothered in 

 small blossom ; the larger flowers of the other class are 

 undoubtedly more handsome, though they are not pro- 

 duced quite so freely. They need a minimum temper- 

 ature of 60. Both kinds are increased by means of 

 cuttings. When the flowers are over the plants are 

 kept dry at the roots for a few weeks, for the purpose 

 of giving them rest. Subsequently the stems are cut 

 down, water is again supplied, and when fresh shoots are 

 about 2 inches long they are taken off and inserted as 

 cuttings. 



A Blue Winter Flower. The Coleus is grown chiefly 

 for the sake of the numerous varieties with handsome 

 and richly coloured leaves, but there is at least one kind 

 valued for its blue flowers in winter, viz. Coleus thyr- 

 soideus. This is an admirable plant for amateurs and 

 needs only a temperature of from 50 to 55. When the old 

 plants have finished flowering the shoots are cut back, 

 and in due time fresh growths will form ; these are suit- 

 able for cuttings when 2 or 3 inches long, and will form 

 roots without difficulty in pots of sandy soil placed in 

 a case or under a bell-glass in the warm greenhouse. In 

 due course they are potted singly in small pots, in a mix- 

 ture of loam, leaf-soil and sand, the first-named material 

 in greatest proportion. When well rooted in the small 

 pots, they are repotted in others 5 inches wide. They 

 make quick growth and the points of the shoots need to 

 be taken out occasionally to ensure well-branched plants. 

 This is first done when they are 6 or 8 inches high and 

 again when the secondary shoots are of similar length. 



In the Fruit Garden 



Many amateurs start flower growing in a more or less 

 haphazard way, perhaps without knowing very much 

 about the subject, and, finally, after a few failures, they 

 arrive at success, No great harm has been done, and 



73 



