76 THE FLORIST AND 



sashes, but do not water overhead when the flowers are expanded, as the 

 colors are thereby injured. 



To succeed in the open ground, choose a shaded part, where the soil is 

 not subject to drought during the summer months. If access cannot be 

 had in this particular, mulch with rotten manure, and take care to give lib- 

 eral supplies of water in long continued dry weather, and if red spider or 

 green fly should make their appearance, syringe as above recommended. In 

 damp woods, these little flowers are quite at home, and where there is 

 this advantage a fine display may be had without more trouble than occa- 

 sionally dividing the roots. 



After blooming is over, if in pots or planted in frames, they should be re- 

 moved to a shaded situation, and kept somewhat damp through the summer. 

 Previous to planting, let the ground be well and deeply dug over, which will 

 greatly assist the roots in penetrating downwards, and enable the plants to 

 resist the drought much better. 



If it be desirable to save seed, and raise improved varieties, some care 

 should be taken. If first class Polyanthus be required, never use a "pin 

 eye " variety for either parent, and choose two kinds of good properties, al- 

 ways recollecting that a good and free grower is the most likely to produce 

 a hardy offspring, and should be made into the maternal parent. I would 

 not advise in all cases that we should so strictly confine ourselves to the 

 florist's absolutism, for there are many beautiful features in the various 

 classes he claims, which his close discriminating eye would consider as 

 worthless, but which nevertheless are very desirable, and when there is seen 

 a tendency towards any pleasing form or color, take advantage of it, save 

 seed, and retain that part of the progeny which is a further advance towards 

 the desired object. Persevere onwards, and in time the anticipation will most 

 assuredly be realized. Most respectfully yours, 



Wm. Chorlton. 



CUPIIEA PLATYCENTRA, 



The appearance of this perpetual blooming little plant is greatly enhanced 

 when treated after the following manner. Although its natural habit be low 

 growing, yet when only a single stem is allowed to grow it will attain a con- 

 siderable height in a short time. 



Select a cutting from the top of a vigorous, growing shoot, stick it into 

 sand, cover it with a bell glass and plunge into bottom heat, and it will emit 

 roots in a few days. As soon as it is wanted, pot it off into a 8-inch pot 



