230 THE FLORIST AND 



THE GENUS POLYGALA. ; 



Some of the gayest and most useful inmates of greenhouses belong to this 

 genus. And the best varieties are plants of easy culture, which, with even 

 ordinary care, soon form fine large symmetrical bushes, bloom most pro- 

 fusely, and remain longer in beauty than most hardwooded plants. But, 

 although all the more desirable varieties are of free growth, persons com- 

 mencing their culture should be careful to procure good healthy promising 

 young plants, avoiding pot-bound leggy things, which are very unfit for 

 beginners. If plants are procured at once, the best situation for them for 

 the next two months will be near the glass in a cold pit or frame, where 

 they can be secured from bright sunshine, and afforded a free circulation of 

 air. If they appear to require more pot room, this should be seen to at 

 once, in order to get them well established in their pots before winter ; and 

 it will be advisable to give a very large shift after this season. Attention 

 should be paid to having the ball in a nice, moist healthy state ; for no plant 

 should be repotted except this is the case, and particularly hardwooded 

 plants. For soil, use good strong rich fibry peat, with a small proportion 

 of rich mellow turfy loam, well intermixed with plenty of sharp silver 

 sand, and some lumpy bits of charcoal, or clean small potsherds to keep it 

 open, and permeable to water and insure good drainage. If stopping is 

 required, this should be done as soon after potting, as the roots appear to 

 have taken to the fresh soil ; or in the case of plants that do not require 

 repotting, it should be done at once, and the shoots should be kept nicely 

 tied out, in order* to induce a bushy habit of growth. 



The best situation for the plants in winter is near the glass in the green- 

 house, where they will have all the light possible, and a free circulation of 

 air on every favorable opportunity. At that season, water must be ad- 

 ministered very carefully, never giving any until it is absolutely wanted, 

 and then sufficient to thoroughly moisten the ball. Turn the plants occa- 

 sionally, to prevent their getting one-sided through the shoots turning to 

 the sun, and give the leaves a gentle washing with the syringe occasonally, 

 to clear them of dust, &c. ; but do this on a bright morning, so as to avoid 

 damp. About the middle of March, the plants should be cut back, if neces- 

 sary, to secure a sufficiently close growth — for they will be too small to be 

 of any service for flowering — and placed in the warmest end of the house, 

 or removed to where the night temperature may average about 45°, syringed 

 over-head on bright days, and kept rather moist. Here they will soon push 

 their buds and start into free growth, and when this is the case, the roots 



