316 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Neglecting to do this at the proper time, before the roots become firmly matted, is the 

 cause of many failures — sickly, yellow-looking plants and small premature flowers. For 

 these later shifts a compost of three parts of sound fibrous loam to one each of leaf soil 

 and dried and crushed cow manure, with sharp sand added, is suitable, but if the loam 

 is heavy or close in texture, small charcoal should also be used freely. For the larger 

 shifts break the loam up roughly, making it finer for the smaller pots. 



When too large for the cool shelves, arrange the plants on a light greenhouse stage 

 covered either with ashes or moss kept damp, as rising moisture is essential. They 

 also succeed in shallow pits and frames. Over-watering must be guarded against 

 immediately after potting, but directly the roots take freely to the fresh soil, water 

 must be given copiously, as often as it is required, and always before the leaves 

 become flaccid. When the pots and soil are fairly occupied with roots, pale clear soot 

 water will invigorate the plants. The illustration on the preceding page (Fig. 145) 

 represents a well-grown herbaceous calceolaria. 



Plants for flowering early in May are best in comparatively small pots, but later and 

 larger plants for exhibition may be topped for producing more growths and flower 

 stems, and some of these plants ought to be large enough for a final shift into 9 -inch 

 pots. Every care should be taken of the weakly plants, as it frequently happens that 

 these prove to be the best varieties so far as quality of bloom is concerned. A light 

 airy greenhouse is the best position in which to flower calceolarias, and if shaded from 

 bright sunshine the flowering season will be considerably prolonged. 



Shrubby Section. 



Well-grown plants of the best of the shrubby varieties are the most attractive 

 during April and May, but can be had in flower much later, or be flowered a second 

 time in one season. They are raised from cuttings, which should be rooted earlier than 

 is advised in the case of those used for summer bedding (see page 207). Towards 

 the end of August select short flowerless shoots, prepare in the usual way, and at once 

 insert in sandy soil under hand-lights set on the shady side of a wall or fence. They 

 may also be rooted in boxes in a cold frame. Pinch out the growing points, and a week 

 later place the plants singly in 3-inch pots, returning them to the frame ; top a second 

 time, and when they are starting, shift the plants into 5-inch pots. If large specimens are 

 desired, top the growths once more, and before the plants become root-bound, shift 

 into 8 -inch pots, in which they ought to flower grandly. They may be wintered in pits 



