ACHIMENES. 



267 



of brisk bottom beat, produce roots quickly, and develop into flowering plants tbe same 

 season. Fully grown leaves, inserted to tbe full deptb of tbeir petioles in pans of sandy 

 peat, and treated similarly to cuttings, also develop into plants, only more slowly than in 

 tbe case of cuttings. Seeds may be sown in March, on tbe surface of pans of fine sandy 

 peat, made firm, level, and moist, placing tbem on bot beds, covering tbe pans witb 

 squares of glass and sbading heavily till tbe tiny plants are seen. On no account 

 disturb tbe germinating seed by 

 careless watering, but tbe soil 

 ought to be re-moistened as often 

 as may be needed by partially 

 immersing tbe pans in tubs or 

 tanks of warm water. Sbade tbe 

 delicate seedlings from brigbt 

 sunsbine, and wben tbey are 

 large enougb to bandle, dib tbem 

 in pans, using tbe mixture above 

 mentioned. Tbe young plants 

 sbould be kept growing witbout 

 cbeck till tbe autumn, wben 

 water ougbt to be gradually with- 

 held, tbe tops then dying down, 

 though not before tbe plants 

 have formed small scaly tubers 

 in the soil. Eest them by keep- 

 ing tbe soil dry in a tempera- 

 ture of about 50°. "Wben tbe 

 plants become strong they pro- 

 duce many tubers, and from 

 these strong flowering plants are obtained tbe same season in which they are placed in 

 pots, pans, or baskets for the purpose. 



A long succession of flowers extending from April to August, inclusive, is best 

 obtained by starting a number of tubers into growth at different times, commencing, say, 

 in February and finishing late in April. As they are liable to start into growth irregu- 

 larly, cultivators will do well to "make up" their pots, pans, or hanging baskets in 



Fig. 124. AcHEHENES IN A BASKET. 



