CAL 



C 173] 



CAL 



aid of a small sharp-pointed stick, pres- 

 sing the sand about them firmly. The 

 herbaceous varieties should be placed 

 rather thinly round the edge of the pot, 

 the half-shrubby ones may be put in all 

 over the pot, neatly in rows; then give a 

 gentle watering. Allow the water to 

 dry oif, and then plunge them into the 

 hotbed, in the ashes or saw- dust, up to 

 the rims of the pots, taking care that 

 the heat is moderate. Shade for a week 

 all the day, afterwards only when the 

 sun shines. If the sand becomes dry, 

 water in the morning of a fine day, but 

 very little water will be necessary. Re- 

 move all decaying leaves or dead^, cut- 

 tings as they occur. As soon as the 

 cuttings are rooted pot them off in 

 the same kind of soil, and in 2|-inch 

 pots, and set them on the surface of the 

 same bed till they make fresh roots, then 

 remove them into a shady part of the 

 greenhouse, for a week previously to re- 

 potting. 



By Seed. Sow twice as soon as the 

 seed is ripe, and in early spring. Sow in 

 wide, shallow seed-pans, rather thinly, 

 and very slightly covered, A similar 

 situation as for cuttings will answer; but 

 as soon as the seedlings are up, place 

 them on a shelf, near the glass, in an 

 airy greenhouse. When they are large 

 enough, pot them into 2| inch-pots, singly, 

 and keep repotting as they require it till 

 they are in 6 -inch pots; then allow them 

 to flower, and such as are of a good form, 

 bright distinct colours, and a fair size, re- 

 pot again, and keep them to propagate 

 by cuttings ; but all others either throw 

 away or plant them out to ornament the 

 flower borders till the frost kills them. 



To save Seed. Impregnation is neces- 

 sary in order to produce good seed, and 

 to produce variety. Choose the pollen 

 from a bright- coloured clear-spotted va- 

 riety, and apply it to the best formed 

 ones destined to bear the seed. The 

 male parent for colour, and the female 

 for shape. 



Soil. Light sandy yellow loam two 

 bushels, leaf mould half a bushel, much 

 decayed cow-dung one peck ; mix tho- 

 roughly, and use in a moderately dry state. 

 If the loam is not sandy naturally, add 

 as much sifted river sand as will make 

 it so. 



Summer Culture. Commence potting 

 as early in spring as possible. Autumn- 

 struck cuttings early in March, and the 

 spring- struck as soon as they are fit. 

 Old stools never make such fine speci- 

 mens as cuttings; they had better be 

 thrown away as soon as they have 

 yielded a crop of cuttings. Drain plen- 

 tifully with broken potsherds, using a 

 greater quantity every time. Repot 

 about three times, and leave the plants, 

 at last, in 11 -inch pots to bloom. No 

 flower stems should be allowed to remain, 

 until the plants have attained their full 

 growth. Keep them as near the glass as 

 possible, in a light airy greenhouse. 

 After the last potting, the plants should 

 present a healthy appearance, with large 

 broad leaves, of a dark green colour. 

 The flower-stems may now be allowed 

 to grow : each should be tied to a neat 

 small green stick. Place the sticks so 

 as to slope outwards, to allow room for 

 the heads to bloom. Plenty of air should 

 be given to cause a stout growth. They 

 should be in perfection early in July. 

 Each plant will be then two feet high, 

 and as much in diameter. They will be 

 fine objects either for the greenhouse 

 when few other things are in bloom, or 

 for exhibition purposes. 



Winter Culture, As soon as the flow- 

 ers are all dead (if no seed is required), 

 the stems ought to be cut down and the 

 plants either removed out of doors, or 

 still better, into a cold pit. Plenty of 

 air should be given on all favourable 

 occasions, and as soon as the frost of 

 winter begins to appear, remove them 

 into the greenhouse, place them as near 

 the glass as possible, and keep them 

 there till the time of propagation arrives. 

 Take off the cuttings then, and throw 

 the old stools away. 



Forcing. On account of , their impa- 

 tience of heat, calceolarias, excepting a 

 few shrubby ones, do not force well. 

 These may be repotted in January, and 

 put into a heat of 55 to 60. Give 

 water moderately, and allow the flower- 

 stems to grow from the first. They will 

 then flower in April and May. 



Diseases, - The herbaceous varieties 

 are subject to a disease very like that 

 which has attacked the potato of late 

 years. They appear quite heajthy, until 



