POPULAR GAEDEN PLANTS. 



415 



of about 80°. Some growers prefer to cut up 

 the tuber into as many pieces as it has buds; 

 this is done, however, only when a number of 

 separate plants are required. As they push 

 into growth allow them plenty of light by 

 placing them well up to the glass. They should 

 be shaded during bright sunny weather only- 

 Syringe them overhead every afternoon, and as 

 soon as the pots are filled with roots move them 

 into larger ones. The treatment as regards 

 root-room, soil, moisture, and heat should be 

 liberal, the hottest stove, a rich peaty or light 

 loamy soil with plenty of sand and copious 

 supplies of water being essential to their quick 

 growth, and good specimens cannot be grown 

 unless they are forced up in about three months 

 from the time of starting. Pinch out all flower- 

 buds as they appear. As the autumn approaches 

 they will show signs of going to rest by ceasing 

 to make fresh leaves, and those they already 

 possess will become yellow. They should then 

 be moved to a drier house and allowed to get 

 fairly dry until all the leaves are dead, when 

 the pots can be placed under a stage as already 

 recommended. 



If small or moderate-sized plants are required, 

 they may be grown in 6-inch pots, and propa- 

 gated every spring so as to have a succession of 

 tubers for the purpose. If the intention is to 

 grow them into large specimens several tubers 

 may be planted in one large pot or pan. 



From the acrid nature of their juices these 

 plants are not palatable to many insects; aphis 

 will sometimes attack the young growths, but 

 they can be destroyed by fumigation; red 

 spider will also occasionally make its appearance 

 during the summer if the atmosphere is kept 

 too dry, but it is easily destroyed by a timely 

 use of the syringe. 



There are very many named sorts. The fol- 

 lowing is a choice selection : — 



Argyrites. 



Donna Carmen Macedo. 



Duchess of York. 



Exquisite. 



F. W. Moore. 



Golden Queen. 



Ibis Rose. 



Joseph Chamberlain. 



Lady Dorrington. 



Lady Mosley. 



Lord Derby. 



Lord Hosebery. 



Marquis of Camden. 



Martin Luther. 

 Mikado. 

 Mrs. Bause. 

 Mrs. Iceton. 

 Mrs. M'Leod. 

 Pantia Ralli. 

 Prince of Wales. 

 Raymond Lemoinier. 

 Silver Cloud. 

 Silver Queen. 

 Sir Henry Irving. 

 Sir Julian Goldsmid. 

 W. E. Gladstone. 



Calceolaria. — The herbaceous Calceolaria, 

 like its companions the Cineraria and Cycla- 

 men, has undergone an immense improvement 



in the last quarter-century. It is supposed to 

 have originated in a hybrid between C. corym- 

 bosa and C. crenatiflora, both Chilian species; 

 and subsequent improvement has been largely 

 due to the constant crossing of the best types 

 and the selection of the most promising pro- 

 geny. The seed, which is exceedingly small, 

 should be sown in June in pots of fine sandy 

 soil. A sheet of glass placed over the pot keeps 



Fig. 522.— Calceolaria. 



the soil moist and hastens the germination, but 

 the glass should be turned each day. The soil 

 should be rich and firm, but of a porous nature, 

 and be kept damp by partially submerging the 

 pot in water, and not by watering, however fine 

 the rose used. The seedlings should be all 

 through in about a week or ten days, and then 

 the glass must be removed from the pot to give 

 air, and the plants pricked out as soon as the 

 second leaf appears. Mistakes have often been 

 made at this point by leaving the plants too 

 long in the seed-pot, treatment from Avhich they 

 never really recover. Similar soil is required, 

 and the plants should be pricked out about '2 

 inches apart. It is important that the small 

 and weaker seedlings should be pricked out as 

 well as the strong ones. The utmost care is 

 necessary in shading, as young leaves are soon 

 burnt if once exposed to direct sunshine in a 

 dry atmosphere. Towards the end of July or 

 early August the plants should have four or 

 five leaves, and be ready to be placed separately 

 in thumb-pots. Good drainage at the bottom 

 of the pot is most essential, and a rich porous 

 soil with a slight mixture of silver sand is the 

 best. The plants should be placed in a frame 

 and have as much air as possible when the 



