740 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



they should be potted singly in large 60-sized 

 pots, and placed on a suspended shelf in a cool 

 pit, and kept moderately damp, yet well supplied 

 with fresh air. Re-pot them as they advance in 

 size until the first flowers show, when, if of suf- 

 ficient importance, shift again, and encourage 

 growth to the utmost extent. Such as show 

 indifferently plant out in the flower borders, 

 whether they be herbaceous or shrubby. 



Both the herbaceous and shrubby sorts are 

 increased by cuttings, which should be attended 

 to in March, the old plants kept over winter 

 furnishing the supply, and again in August or 

 September, when they have done flowering. 

 The tops of the shoots in all cases are best, and 

 a light sandy loamy soil the most proper for 

 setting them in; and when well watered, and 

 afterwards allowed to dry, the pots should be 

 plunged in a mild bottom-heat, the frame kept 

 moderately close and shaded till the rooting 

 process commences, when more air and less 

 shading should be given them. When rooted, 

 pot them off into 60-sized pots, and set them 

 on the surface of the bed they have been struck 

 in, partially shaded for a few days to assist the 

 process of root-making ; after this is effected 

 they should be placed in a cooler frame or pit, 

 re-potted as they increase in size, and their 

 growth encouraged. Cuttings struck in August 

 or September should be potted off early in 

 March, and those only struck in March as soon 

 as they are sufficiently rooted to bear removal. 

 From this time every encouragement should be 

 given to forward their growth, and no flowers 

 should be allowed to form until they have at- 

 tained their full size, which they will have 

 accomplished after their third shifting, and 

 when they have been placed in No. 6 sized 

 pots, which is sufficiently large for blooming 

 them in. At each shifting drain thoroughly, 

 for although the calceolarias delight in a humid 

 atmosphere, they are very impatient of damp at 

 their roots. During their whole growth they 

 require abundance of light and air, and therefore 

 should be kept near to the glass. As the plants 

 progress in size, provision should be made for 

 their support, particularly the flower-spikes of 

 the herbaceous kinds, which are naturally long 

 and slender, and produce much larger flowers 

 than the shrubby ones do. The neatest, most 

 durable, and cheapest support, is wire about the 

 thickness of a crow-quill, cut into the required 

 lengths, and painted either green or a soft stone- 

 colour ; and in placing them they should be set 

 with their tops inclining outwards, so as to 

 allow room for the free exposure of the flowers. 

 The finer calceolarias should always be grown 

 under glass, their delicate frame, particularly 

 the herbaceous kinds, being ill adapted for re- 

 sisting winds and heavy rains. Those who have 

 a greenhouse or conservatory to maintain gay 

 with flowers during the summer can scarcely 

 choose a tribe of plants better fitted for the 

 purpose. 



Balsam. — This old and justly admired plant, 

 when well grown, is valuable as a decorative 

 plant for the greenhouse or conservatory during 

 summer and autumn. Being annuals they are 

 propagated by seed, choosing that which has 

 been produced from the finest double varieties, 



and which has been kept for several years, such 

 being found to produce double flowers with the 

 greatest certainty. Sow in pots in March, and 

 again towards the end of April, for succession, 

 using a rich light soil, and the temperature of a 

 moderate hot-bed. Many err in attempting to 

 grow the balsam in too high a temperature, that 

 of its native habitats being only from 50° to 65° 

 upon an average, seldom much higher or much 

 lower. When the plants have attained the height 

 of from 2 to 3 inches, pot them in 48-sized pots, 

 one in each, replacing them again in the bed ; 

 when the roots have nearly filled the pots, shift 

 again into 24's, 8's, and lastly into 4's, keeping 

 them still in the same temperature — say from 

 45° to 50° as a night heat, 65° to 70° during the 

 day, with a bottom-heat of from 65° to 70°. 

 Admit abundance of air so long as the tempera- 

 ture is not lowered, and keep the plants apart 

 from touching each other, and within a few 

 inches of the glass, which will insure nice robust 

 plants, whose diameter through the branches 

 will be nearly equal to that of their height. At 

 each shifting the soil should be richer and stiffer, 

 that of a very rich loam being the best for their 

 flowering in. Water must be applied to the 

 roots freely, even during bright weather, to the 

 extent of twice a-day, and if in an enriched state 

 so much the better. When coming into flower 

 they may be removed to the greenhouse or con- 

 servatory, and if elevated on pedestals in the 

 latter, their effect will be enhanced. To prepare 

 them for their removal from the growing-pit to 

 either of these structures, air should be freely 

 admitted to them for a week previously. It is 

 more difficult to procure genuine seed of the 

 balsam than to grow it, as neither its age nor 

 stock can well be depended on ; the grower, 

 therefore, should save his own seed. Young 

 seed produces too luxuriant plants, the majority 

 of whose flowers will be single or only semi- 

 double, and their colours inferior, and, strange 

 enough to say, most of them bearing a close re- 

 semblance in the latter respect to the parent ; 

 whereas when old seed — say from four to eight 

 or more years — is used, the preponderance in 

 the progeny will be double-flowered, and of 

 great variety of colour. 



Cockscomb. — Although much less varied in 

 colouring and splendour than the balsam, the 

 cockscomb is, nevertheless, when well grown, a 

 plant of singular beauty, and admirably suited 

 for the conservatory or greenhouse during the 

 summer and aiitumn months. As to time of 

 sowing and general management, this plant 

 differs little from the balsam, unless in regard 

 to temperature, which can scarcely be main- 

 tained too high, if accompanied with air and 

 water in abundance. From 70° to 85° may be 

 taken as the average temperature until the 

 flowers are fully formed, after which they will 

 continue to exist in a much lower heat, their 

 vital functions being probably nearly expended. 

 The flowers will remain in tolerable condition 

 should the roots be cut off and the stems stuck 

 into moist sand. Tall and dwarf-grown cocks- 

 combs are the result of culture rather than of 

 any seminal difference in the plants. To insure 

 the former, the plants should sustain no check 

 till fully grown ; while to effect the latter, when 



