Mitraria coccinea. 265 



mould, loam, and sand. Give them a little shade and heat, 

 till they are well established, when they may have a shift 

 into a larger pot, using the same compost as before, with the 

 addition of a very little old cowdung. 



SUMMER TREATMENT. 



Keep the plant in a tolerably warm situation in the green- 

 house, not fully exposed to the sun, and syringe freely at all 

 times, always remembering that upon a vigorous growth and 

 well-ripened wood, depends the entire success of the culti- 

 vator. In the early part of the season the plants should be 

 topped, in order to have them stout and bushy. When well 

 established, give another shift into a larger pot, watering oc- 

 casionally with very weak liquid manure or guano. The 

 plants will advance rapidly, and by autumn will attain a 

 good size. 



WINTER TREATMENT. 



The summer growth being completed, the main object is 

 to thoroughly ripen the wood, for on this a fine bloom 

 wholly depends. If not ripe, it will make no buds, but again 

 commence growing early in the season; but if fully matured, 

 every terminal shoot will be covered with a profusion of its 

 scarlet bells which clothe the plant from top to bottom. 



The plants may now be fully exposed to the light in the 

 most airy place in the house ; syiinging overhead may be 

 discontinued, and water given sparingly at the root. The 

 growth will soon receive a check, and the shoots will be- 

 come hard and woody, a sure indication of a fine bloom ; 

 without this attention, in the place of a fine bloom, only an 

 abundance of new wood will be the result. 



During the dark days of November and December, give 

 the plants a light, airy and cool situation ; but when the new 

 growth commences, syringing again may be resorted to till 

 the flowers are fully open. 



In June, when out of bloom, the plants should be cut in, 

 repotted, and receive the same treatment as the previous year. 



VOL. XIX. NO. VI. 34 



