REQUIREMENTS OE CINERARIAS. 



9 



timely shift ought to be given. For the smaller pots use a mixture of two parts loam 

 and one part leaf soil, with sand added. A richer, coarser compost is desirable for the 

 later shift. To two parts of roughly broken up fibrous loam, add one part each of dried 

 and crushed cow manure, or partially decayed horse droppings, and leaf soil with a 

 sprinkling of sharp sand and charcoal, adding also small potsherds if the loam is of a 

 clayey nature. See that the plants are in a moist state at the roots before they are 

 turned out of their pots and repot firmly , but not making the soil hard. Eeturn the 

 plants to the frames and allow them ample room to develop from the first, or objectionably 

 long leaf stalks will result. Keep the frame somewhat close for a few days, but air must 

 be freely admitted in time to prevent a weakly growth. The base on which they stand 

 must be kept moist in bright weather. Eemoving the sashes on clear still nights in 

 summer enables the plants to be invigorated by the dew. 



Cinerarias, though delighting in coolness and moisture during the summer, are 

 tender plants, and therefore best kept in greenhouses during the winter. Light, slate- 

 covered staging suits them well; if the stages over hot- water pipes are only latticed, cover 

 heavily with fresh moss as a cool, damp base for the plants, for they cannot stand direct 

 fire heat. Cinerarias may be mixed with other kinds of plants when in flower, but 

 ought to be arranged quite by themselves up to that period, and not crowded. Never 

 allow the leaves to flag through want of water, and supply liquid manure after the 

 flowering pots are well filled with roots. Safe and good liquid food can be obtained by 

 soaking a bag each of sheep's droppings and soot in a tub of water, diluting the strong 

 solution with sufficient clear water to give it the colour of rather weak tea. Eenew the 

 enriching matter in the tub every three weeks. Though cinerarias are essentially 

 greenhouse plants, they may be forwarded in gentle heat, but give the most satisfaction 

 when flowered in a house where only sufficient fire heat is provided to exclude frost, 

 coupled with careful ventilation, to prevent damping. 



DOUBLE-FLOWERED CINERARIAS. 



Named varieties of these can be obtained in different colours, but excellent varieties 

 are raised from seeds by following the routine above described. If any of them are 

 considered worthy of it, they may be preserved and propagated by offsets. To obtain 

 these, cut down the plants immediately the flowers fade and either place them out of 

 doors on a bed of ashes in a cool position, or turn out of the pots, rub off a little of the 

 old soil, and plant somewhat deeply in a bed of rich light soil in a cold frame, or even 



VOL. II. c 



