50 THE FLORIST AND 



re-potting, the plants should be plunged as before, and encouraged 

 into vigorous growth. With the increase of solar heat at this sea- 

 son, a free use of the syringe should be resorted to on all favorable 

 occasions, using water of the temperature of the house or pit in 

 which the plants are placed; during bright sunshine a slight shading 

 should be provided, any indications of flower-buds removed, and 

 the points of the stronger shoots topped, to preserve a dwarf bushy 

 habit. When requisite, a second shift should be given into 13-inch 

 pots; and afterwards the same treatment continued as before. — 

 With due attention to air, water, stopping, and tying out the 

 branches, fine compact jDlants will be obtained. A little observation 

 will show the cultivator how far stopping will be beneficially con- 

 sistent with the due production of flower-buds, when this is 

 secured, the plants may be gradually hardened and wintered as 

 before. 



If the plants are required in bloom at an early period of the 

 following summer, say May, they should be placed in heat by the 

 early part of February, or later, as may be required ; when the 

 blo;>ms begin to expand, the plants may be removed to a warm 

 part of the greenhouse or conservatory. After the flowers are 

 exhausted, the -shoots may be pruned back to a well-placed joint, 

 and the plants removed to a close situation in heat, until the buds 

 have broken freely. At this time they will require repotting. If 

 the pots are well filled with healthy roots, a larger shift may be 

 given. The required size must, however, now be determined by 

 the convenience or inclination of the cultivator; but I may state, 

 that G. Fortuni is a free-rooting plant, and the flowers are usually 

 larger and more abundantly produced when allowed plenty of pot- 

 room; if want of space does not allow of large pots being used, 

 the ball of soil should be considerably reduced, and the plants re- 

 potted in the same sized pots; in this way they may be kept in 

 vigorous health for some years ; and when eventually overgrown or 

 unhealthy, they may be replaced with some of their young and 

 vigorous progeny. 



I find this Gardenia to luxuriate in a compost of equal parts of 

 fibrous hazelly loam and peat soil, broken up in a rough state, ad- 



