Use of Plant and Flower 227 



leaving on them what soil will adhere; put each cluster 

 in a large pot (preferably a one-half or two-thirds pot) 

 six to eight inches or more in diameter according to 

 the size of the cluster, well provided with drainage 

 (soil made light, as with coarse sand, fine gravel or 

 pulverized old mortar); leave the plants out of doors 

 until they have had a freeze, and when the weather 

 becomes severe put them in a cool, dry cellar or room 

 where the frost will come out gradually; the latter 

 part of December bring the pots into a room where 

 they will have some sunshine and some, but not much, 

 heat; after growth has started, about the middle of 

 January, put the plants in a sunny window in the 

 living room; water occasionally (allowing the soil 

 to become dry before watering again) until the leaves 

 have attained nearly their normal length, and then 

 largely but not entirely withhold water, that the plants 

 may mature their growth; spray, if insects appear, 

 with a soap solution (a few shavings of ivory soap 

 dissolved in boiling water which should afterwards 

 stand until cool). 



In the spring, after the plants have flowered the 

 pots can be plunged in some well drained part of the 

 garden, and, being provided with an abundance of 

 water and occasionally fed with bone meal during 

 the growing season, they may be left there until 

 freezing weather in the fall. Flowers have been ob- 

 tained several years in succession, without repotting, 

 by repeating above treatment. 



Another method is as follows: Early in the spring 

 pot two year old rhizomes with their last year's 



