150 CULTIVATION. 



require to be repeated very often in dry wea- 

 ther. Slugs, snails, and earth-worms, should be 

 banished with lime water. 



The very choice sorts, when in flower, should 

 have the shelter of a hand-glass, to preserve 

 their beauty as long as possible. Except those 

 intended to ripen their seed, all should have their 

 flower stems cut away soon as the flowers have 

 faded. Being prolific bearers of seed, its produc- 

 tion receives a great portion of the strength of 

 the plant ; consequently, the shoots and flowers 

 for the next year are diminutive; which would 

 not be the case, if prevented from perfecting 

 seed. 



Description of a fine polyanthus. — " Its proper- 

 ties are in most respects similar to those of a fine 

 auricula, viz. the stem, pedicles, and formation 

 of the truss ; therefore a definition of its florets 

 and petals are only necessary to be considered 

 in this place. 



" The t-ube of the corolla should be short, 

 well filled with anthers, and terminate fluted, 

 rather above the eye. 



