266 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The treatment of spring- struck plants will be pretty much 

 the same, excepting that the flowering pot should be smaller, 

 say about 5 inches in diameter. If flowers are the sole object in 

 view, then it is possible to get a good crop from cuttings struck 

 as late as June, but these must be grown straight on under glass 

 without a check, and bloomed in very small pots ; little plants 

 of Vesuvius grown in this way in small thumb-pots, and 

 carrying one or two good trusses of flower, are sometimes used 

 for table decoration, and are very effective. 



One of the most important points to be noted in both cases 

 is that the plants must be placed under cover before being 

 saturated by heavy autumn rains, otherwise the fibrous feeding 

 roots will decay, and much of the lower foliage turn yellow and 

 fall, after which a full measure of success is impossible. If 

 house-room is scarce in autumn, a temporary erection of frame- 

 lights may be put up just to protect the plants from excessive 

 wet, until cold weather makes housing imperative. When safely 

 under cover the plants should have air pretty freely until they 

 are well accustomed to their new quarters. They must be 

 watered carefully, and the buds removed as before until within 

 six weeks of the time when the first flowers are required. 



A few words as to the best form of house may be useful, 

 though the nature of the plant under discussion will itself 

 indicate to the observant the style of structure required. This 

 should be arranged so that the plants may catch every ray of our 

 too rarely visible winter sun. A low span-roofed house, with the 

 benches not too far from the glass, is the best. As regards 

 aspect, I prefer that the house should run from N.E. to S.W., as 

 in this position the morning sun shines straight through the 

 house with as little obstruction from the rafters as possible, 

 whereas the afternoon sun in November and December is scarcely 

 worth consideration. While on the subject of light a hint may 

 be given to thoroughly wash all glass inside and out, if it be 

 at all dirty, before the plants are introduced. This is, of course, 

 a necessity in smoky, foggy districts, but there are few places 

 where it will not increase the chances of success. The question 

 of " bed versus bench " has been discussed, but I have myself 

 very little preference, having seen equally good results from 

 plants on lattice benches or on solid beds surfaced with ashes, 

 though in the latter case a small hot-water pipe carried close 



