HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONUOV. 



85 



cightetn inches betwecMi plant and plant in the row. Nothiiii^ 

 now is requisite but to keep them clean through the sum- 

 mer, well- watered for a month or so, and to cut away all run- 

 ners and blossoms as they appear. In the middle of Augu>t, 

 by which time they are strong plants, I commence a series of 

 checks, intended to drive the plant into an early and decided rest. 

 A labourer with a spade cuts within a foot of the plants all along 

 the row on both sides. If this does not cause them to flag in a 

 hot sun the cutting is repeated in a week, and perhaps a third 

 time, cutting nearer the plant each time until finally within six 

 inches. However, be it understood the extent of this checking- 

 process depends entirely on the character of the summer, and the 

 state of the plant. If a hot dry summer, perchance they may 

 not require it ; but for early forcing the plant must be got to 

 rest early in the autumn, and by rest I mean the entire ceasing 

 of the production of young leaves in the heart of the plant, and 

 the browning or spotting of all the larger leaves. 



" In the early part of September, I pot them in w hat is called 

 about London the No. '24 . I reduce the ball of earth very 

 liberally, and trim the roots in with a knife. The pots are 

 drained with a mixture of old tan quite rough, half rotten dung 

 and coarse sand. The soil I use is composed of three parts of 

 yellow loam sod, almost as adhesive as clay, but mellowed with 

 age, and one part of rich rotten dung, adding a good sprinkling 

 of fine bone dust. As soon as potted they are placed behind a 

 north wall and sprinkled occasionally with water, they remain 

 here about a week or ten days, in fact until I can ascertain that 

 they are making new roots ; they are then removed to a hot 

 gravel walk before a south border, where they remain till the 

 last w^eek in October. While in this situation they are watered 

 occasionally, but not too freely, just enough to keep them from 

 flagging. In the end of October they are plunged behind a 

 north wall completely in the shade, and from this moment I 

 date the commencement of their winter, their large strong leaves 

 are now of a coppery and mottled brown and begin to drop down 

 on the pots. In fact every thing indicates the most perfect 

 maturity of the bud. When I want to commence forcing, I 

 move a portion of them into a slow moist frame heat of from 

 40° to 50°, and 1 may here observe that the more gradually they 

 are started the better, but by all means in a moist warmth. When 

 I perceive the flower- stem I introduce them to the back shelves 

 in the houses, placing roomy feeders or pans under them half 

 filled with the following compost : viz. three parts rotten horse 

 dung, one part sandy loam, one part old tan in little nobs or 

 lumps, two parts coarse sand ; the pots being placed particularly 

 firm and level on this, little now is wanted but regular watering^ 

 the thermometer, however, is by no means allowed to rise above 

 (i5° in the day and 55'' at night, until the lirst bloom opens. 



