MISCELLAXEOrS EXHIBITION PLA^'TS. 97 



in the centre. Shake the earth clean from the roots of the 

 plant, examine it carefully, and cut clean away all diseased or 

 decaying parts, and trim the roots to about two inches in 

 length. Dress the cut parts with powdered charcoal, and put 

 some of it on the top of the cone, upon which place the plant, 

 and spread the roots equally around. Press the soil firmly 

 about the roots, and leave a quarter of an inch of the bai-e 

 stem above the surface of the soil, which should be half an 

 inch below the rim of the pot. To avoid bleeding, all leaves 

 must be thoroughly withered before they are taken off. When 

 re-potted, water the plants and put them back into the fiame, 

 and afterwards give water on]j when they require it, being 

 very careful to let none drop into the heait of the plants. 

 Remove them from the frame to the house about the end of 

 September, where they should remain till they bloom, and 

 when the trusses are well xip they should be shaded from 

 bright sun. Greenfly sometimes attacks the pladts, but if the 

 insects are at once washed off with a sponge they do little 

 damage. In some places the plant is infested with a small 

 grev louse called the "Woolly Aphis,'' which should be imme- 

 diately cleared off whenever it appears, either at the collar of 

 the plant or on the roots. Plants for competition should have 

 a truss of five, seven, nine, or eleven pips, and before taking 

 them to the show some cotton-wool should be placed between 

 the foot-stalks to keep the pips from injury, and the truss tied 

 to a small stake, these being removed when the show is reached. 

 They should be securely packed in boxes to prevent injury in 

 transit. In a collection of Auriculas, the plants should be even- 

 sized, and the colours distinct. The points of merit are : 

 (1.) Health of the foliage, height and strength of the flower 

 stem ; (2.) the truss of flowers should be so disposed that the 

 whole may be seen ; (3.) the pips should be round, flat, and 

 free from blemish ; and (4.) they should be as near perfect as 

 possible in colour and markings. 



AZALEA. 

 The Ghent and Japanese {A. sinensis, syn. A. mollis) varieties 

 supply diversity of colour and profusion of bloom at any period 



