276 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A good method of rooting the cuttings is to plant them in light 

 sandy soil, and after once watering thoroughly, place them under 

 handlights on a moist bed well up to the glass in a cool green- 

 house ; a temperature ranging between 40° and 50° is most 

 suitable. Daily attention must be given, and the frames must 

 be kept closed to prevent the leaves nagging. Eoots will form in 

 from a month to six weeks, and as soon as this is evident air 

 must be admitted gradually to harden the tender plants to the 

 exposure of the house ; then the lights may be removed alto- 

 gether, and an occasional fine spraying overhead will help to 

 sustain them. When well rooted a shift into 3f -inch pots will 

 be necessary, using soil composed of equal parts loam and leaf- 

 mould with coarse sand ; replace the plants in a good light 

 position in the cool house where they may have plenty of air on 

 all favourable occasions. Avoid carefully the extremes of a close 

 atmosphere or cold draughts, as either condition is detrimental 

 to the well-being of the plants. The aim must be to maintain a 

 steady, robust, and uninterrupted growth. Early in March cold 

 frames will afford sufficient protection if covered so as to exclude 

 frost, and in genial weather the lights may be removed entirely 

 through the middle of the day. A further potting into 6-inch 

 pots must be given as soon as the soil is well filled with roots ; 

 the soil at this stage should be of about two-thirds loam and 

 one- third leaf- soil and decayed horse -manure in equal parts, with 

 sufficient sand to ensure porosity. 



Firm potting is very essential, especially if the loam is of a 

 light nature ; and, unless the weather is very dry and warm, water 

 will not be needed at the root for two or three days after re- 

 potting ; frequent damping overhead will, however, be of much 

 service to the plants. Water thorourjlily whenever it is necessary, 

 and with care, as injudicious watering, I am convinced, is the 

 cause of many failures. The rule should be never to water a 

 plant before it requires it, and then give it a good soaking. 



STorriNG. — This very important item of management is 

 actually the timing of the flower-buds, and requires attention 

 from April onwards. The opinion once held that the best results 

 were obtained from plants grown naturally, has given way of 

 late years in favour of pinching the points, at various dates, to* 

 assist the llower-bud to form at a time most suitable to its finest 

 development, and it is an undoubted fact that many varieties 



