THE IXDIAN CliRSS. 13o 



as the cottagers sow their major Iropcruliniis, wliere the 

 phmts are to remain; and the matter of chief iinportance 

 then IS to thin them to nine inches apart, so as to aftord 

 each plant an opportnnity of spreadiiiti;' into a round, eoni- 

 ])act tul't, which will very soon become smothered with 

 tlowers, and will so continue until frost makes an end of 

 its bright career. 



The tender perennial kinds of whicli Trop'Poliuii 

 Lolihiiiii iiiii is the type are hrst-class Ijedders of the most 

 rehned character, and they are invaluable for the conser- 

 vatory if so managed as to flower freely all the winter. 

 To manage them as bedders they must be multiplied Ijy 

 cuttings in the usual way of "soft-wooded" plants, and 

 be put out late in May. In common with all the plants 

 of this family, they thrive best in a dry, j^oor soil, and a 

 sunny situation; and in the event of their becoming too 

 leafy, it is a good practice to remove a few of the topmost 

 leaves, as this slightly checks the growth and promotes 

 production of flowers. It should be borne in mind, h(jw- 

 ever, that every plant should be allowed to carry all its 

 leaves unless there is a sufficient reason for the removal of 

 a portion, for the leaves are the lungs, and every leaf 

 hjst is a loss of breathing power. There are people who 

 think that leaves are quite superfluous, and they remove 

 them in a reckless manner in order to ensure plenty of 

 llowers. The result is that they get no flowers at all, and 

 if they persevere in the practice the plants soon die. 



There is a beautiful class of double tropmAiuiis in culti- 

 vation that are justly prized for the decoration of the 

 conservatory during the winter. These and other kinds 

 required for winter flowers should be pro])agated by cuttings 

 ill July and August, and the flower-buds that first appear 



