322 On the Cultivation of the Cocks-comb. 



freely. The plants were put, whilst very small, into pots of 

 four inches diameter, and three inches deep ; as soon as their 

 roots had reached the sides of the pots, and before they had 

 become, in any degree, matted, they were transplanted into 

 pots of a foot in diameter, and about nine inches deep. 

 Particular attention was paid to the state of the roots, for I 

 have reason to think that the compression of them in the pot 

 has, under all circumstances, a tendency to accelerate the 

 flowering of plants. 



Under this mode of treatment, the plants became large 

 and strong before they shewed a disposition to blossom ; 

 they usually divide into many branches (as the Pine-apple 

 plant will also do), which will greatly injure them, if due at- 

 tention be not paid to remove the side branches, when very 

 young. My plants were at all times so placed that their 

 leaves reached within a few inches of the glass, and they 

 were subjected to the same heat (from 70° to 100°,) during 

 the summer, as my Pine-apple plants. 



The seeds of the plants, which I raised in the present sea- 

 son, were not sown till too late in the spring ; and if I were 

 to repeat the experiment, I entertain no doubt of producing 

 much larger flowers than the one I sent you ; for, the variety, 

 I believe, is of superior excellence. It affords seeds very 

 sparingly, as you would perceive by the specimen sent. 



I am, dear Sir, 



very sincerely yours, 



Thomas Andrew Knight. 



Downton, 

 November 4th, 1820. 



