426 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



stem. This should produce five or six side-shoots, but if a smaller 

 number is obtained, the leading ones must be stopped to induce further 

 breaks. Now, shift into the size pot known as 48's, and when these have 

 become fairly filled with roots shift again, this time finally, to seven- or 

 fight-inch pots. It is a good plan to tie a piece of bast round the rim of the 

 pot, and to this attach short lengths by means of which the shoots may 

 be tied out well away from the centre, so as to produce a bushy plant. 

 The potting mixture for this final shift should be the compost previously 

 prescribed, and as the flower-buds begin to appear, weak manure water 

 should be given in addition, about every third day. Care should be taken 

 in watering not to spill it on the foliage, and that it drains freely from 

 the pots, or damping off' will ensue. The lowest leaves are in special 

 danger from this cause, or the opposite one of drying up ; and if these 

 go the appearance of the plant is to some extent spoiled. If the plants 

 are required for bedding outside, their potting will not proceed so far, but 

 in April they will be hardened oft", and early in May, if the weather 

 IS favourable, planted out. Some rich soil, with a liberal admixture of 

 manure, should be placed in the holes before putting in the new plants, 

 so that the roots may have something in reserve to keep up the vigour of 

 the plant, which will also mean a lengthened flowering peiiod. 



Herbaceous Calceolarias are raised from seed, which should be sown 

 during the summer in light sandy soil. The pans should be about two- 

 thirds full, the soil fine, the surface even, and watered before sowing the 

 seed. Place in frame or greenhouse, in the shade, and cover with flat 

 glass until the seedlings appear ; then gradually uncover the pan. As soon 

 as possible prick out into other pans, and keep close and shaded. As they 

 increase in size and vigour, shift them successively into three-inch, five- 

 inch, and finally eight-inch pots. This last shift will not come until they 

 emerge from their winter quarters in a dry greenhouse, and they should 

 then be treated to the special compost recommended for the Shrubby 

 section. Give them an airy position in the greenhouse ; water judiciously, 

 never letting them get dry, yet avoiding the other extreme, and about 

 May they should give you a brilliant display of flowers, and keep it up 

 for eight or ten weeks. These will look all the better if, as they grow, 

 the flower-stems are tied out to little sticks. 



Description of Plate 204 shows two of the Hybrid forms of Herb- 



Plates 204 and 205. aceous Calceolarias, about three-fourths of the natural 

 size. Fig. 1 is a section through the flower; 2, a seed, natural size 

 and enlarged ; 3, a seedling. 



Plate 205 is a Shrubby form, Calceolaria rugosa, two-thirds of the 

 natural size ; the separate Figure being a section through the flower. 



