82 THE BOOK OF THE WINTER GARDEN 



POINSETTIA 



{Euphorbia pulcherrimd)^ first known in culture by the 

 Americans, and from the States it came into Britain via 

 the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh. In the Southern 

 States it is one of the gorgeous outdoor features of a 

 Christmastide garden. Here the plant most generally 

 favoured is one annually propagated, and which, grown 

 with a single unpinched stem, will give a gorgeous 

 scarlet rosette from I to 2 feet across. They are most 

 effective when stood on the floor, interspersed with 

 palms, ferns, etc. 



As the bracts fade, and the leaves yellow, give less 

 water, and in a week or two withhold altogether, placing 

 the plants on a dry greenhouse shelf. In April start the 

 plants in a temperature of 60 degrees or thereabouts, 

 syringing freely. When the shoots are 4 or so inches 

 long, take off with a *' heel " and insert in a warm frame. 

 Three weeks will fully decide the fate of these shoots : 

 those rooted should be given air, or they may *' damp 

 off." In six weeks after setting the cuttings, the young 

 plants should be ready for 4-inch pots, and a compost of 

 three parts loam to one of leaf mould. In a fortnight 

 they may go into a sun-exposed frame, keeping the sash- 

 lights closed on cold days and at nights. When the 

 roots have worked through the soil, shift into 6-inch 

 pots, this being a good size for flowering plants of 

 moderate size, if plenty of liquid manure is given up to 

 time of flowering. Early in October remove the plants 

 to a warm greenhouse. Care should be taken to keep 

 water off the bracts, as this frequently occasions markings. 

 If heads are cut for decoration, the stalk should be dipped 

 in boiling water a few seconds, to prevent bleeding. 



Large specimens may be grown by potting on the old 

 stools, after cutting the stem 3 inches above the roots, 

 instead of taking cuttings and throwing the stumps away. 



