PERSIAN CYCLAMEN. 



265 



dry heat, till sturdy little plants are formed, when rather less 

 heat is desirable. Spray them with tepid water at least once a 

 day, and keep the soil in the pans uniformly moist, but not 

 saturated. 



Potting and other Cultural Details. — Before the 

 roots become interlaced with each other the young seedlings 

 ought to be placed singly into 2^-in. pots. Seeing that 

 they are well apart in the seed pan, every plant can be 

 lifted out with the point of a label, with a small portion of 

 soil about the roots, and if properly potted no serious check 

 to the plant's progress will be given. For this first potting, 

 soil similar to that in which the seeds were sown may be used. 

 This should not be pressed hard, and the tiny corms ought to 

 show just above the level of the soil. It is now when the private 

 gardener's difficulties become apparent, especially when the first 

 potting takes place in the autumn rather than in March, as 

 would be the case if the seed were sown in December or 

 January. Young Cyclamen, as before hinted, will not thrive in 

 dry surroundings, and soon become stunted and dirty on dry, hot 

 shelves. Where they succeed best is on an ash- covered staging 

 in low span-roofed houses such as trade growers favour ; but 

 failing these, plunge the pots closely together in large shallow 

 boxes filled with either fresh moss or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, and 

 block these well up to the light. The soil must be kept on the 

 moist side, taking care not to sour it by over-watering, and on 

 clear days lightly spray the plants overhead in the mornings and 

 afternoons, also shading them from strong sunshine. The 

 temperature may range from 55° to 65°, and the atmosphere of 

 the house should be kept moist. 



It is at this stage of their career that many plants are crippled 

 by an attack of a small species of aphis, this happening most 

 often in mixed plant houses. In former years we have been 

 obliged to dip the infested plants in soapy tobacco-water, syringing 

 this off the leaves next day, but nicotine fumes are the present- 

 day remedy. 



If necessary to save the foliage from becoming drawn, re- 

 plunge or rearrange the plants, giving them rather more room 

 than previously. Before they become badly root-bound or 

 weakened by being kept too long in small pots, all worth the 

 trouble should have a shift, this time into 5-in. pots. A rather 



