Previous to this, any flower sialics that appear must bo pinched out. In a suitable place the plants will do better 
out o£ doors than in the greenhouse during summer. Theyneed a liberal supply of water. The plants will bloom 
continuously during the winter in either the greenhouse or a well-lighted sittiug-room, not too warm; they should 
not be moved about often. 
Cineraria.— Years ago the Cineraria was a popular plant among florists. Bedding plants crowded it aside, 
but it is now fast taking its proper place again among choice winter-blooming plants. It is, to bo sure, a rather 
difficult plant to grow and bloom well if its requirements are not understood. The mistake generally made is in 
growing it in a warm house instead of a cool one. The seed should be started in the greenhouse. For winter 
blooming, sow the seed in April and May, in shallow boxes, in fine soil ; drop the seed in shallow drills, cover, and 
1)ress the eai-th rather Jirmly with a piece of board or the bottom of a pot. Set the box where it will get the 
morning sun, but bo free from drip ; water moderately and carefully. The treatment of the seedlings should be 
similar to that given to the Chinese Primrose. As soon as the plants are out of the seed-leaf, transplant singly 
into small pots, in a rich soil, with some vegetable mould in it. Repot as often as the pots become moderately 
filled with roots, or sufficiently often to prevent the roots from becoming pot-bound, and so avoid checking the 
growth. If specimen plants are wanted, the repotting should be continued until the plants are in pots from 8 to 10 
inches in diameter. The last two pottings should be liberal ones, and drainage well provided for, as the plants 
will need copious waterings. When the flower stalks appear, manure water may be used once or twice a week. 
Aphis and red spider are tlie chief enemies to bo guarded against ; and this is best done by frequent syringings or 
sprinklings overhead. The plants will do best during the summer out of doors, in some place where they will not 
get too much sun, and be free from the drip of trees. In the fall the plants should be placed in a cool greenhouse, 
where the temperature can bo kept low and the air moist. The plants should be placed on a table by themselves, 
and the pots always kept far enough apart to prevent the leaves in one pot from touching those in the next. In 
the winter it maybe necessary to smoke the plants with tobacco occasionally, to keep down the "green fly," or 
aphis. This may easily be done with tobacco "stems," which can be had at slight cost ; they can l)e burned on a 
shovel, or in a regular "fumigator," made for the purpose. 
Caiceolaria. — Tlie herbaceous varieties of the Calceolaria are very beautiful and popular plants. They 
should be flowered in a cool greenhouse. The seeds are very small, and should be sown on the surface. Sow in 
shallow boxes, filled with a light, sandy soil, that has been sifted. Sow moderately thick in rows on the surface, 
and cover very liglitly with sifted sphagnum moss, eocoanut waste or very light .soil. Press the soil firmly on the 
seed. The watering should be done carefully; an atomizer or brush may be used to advantage. To retain the 
moisture, the box may be covered with panes of glass, which must be removed, however, as soon as the plants 
make their appearance. The box .should have plenty of light, but not much siin. As soon as the plants can be 
hantlled, transplant singly into pots 2 to 2}4 inches in diameter. The soil .should be liglit and rich, and vegetable 
mould is an excellent addition. Repot as often as the pots a]-e fairly filled with roots, and continue the repotting, 
if fine flowers are wanted, till the plants are in pots 8 inches in dia, icter. If the pots become root-bound the 
plants are apt to run prematurely into floM'er. Water regularly and abundantly, to prevent drooping. As tlie pots 
increase in size, drainage must be supplied to carry off the surplus water. Place in a cool greenhouse in the 
winter, as directed for Cinerarias, and keep the pots apart to prevent the leaves from touching. An occasional 
smoking with tobacco will keep down the green fly. 
Pansy. — For spring blooming, the seed should be sown in August, September and October, in a coldframe 
with a southern aspect. Plenty of air and light is essential. During mild weather tlie sashes should be removed; 
when it is frosty, coverings are preferable to artificial heat. If wanted for winter bloom, sow in July, and as soon 
as hu-ge enough plant in beds or benches near the glass in the greenhouse, in a low and even temperature. 
Geraniums. — The Scarlet or Horseshoe Geranium (or, more properly, Pelargonium), now so extensively used 
for bedding, may be easily grown from seed at any season of the year. If during the summer, better out of doors 
than anywhere else; but in a greenhoitse or sitting room during the winter. Sow the seeds in pot.s or shallow 
boxes, in any common soil; cover about an eighth of an inch, and press the soil on the seed. Transplant as soon 
as out of the seed-leaf, into small pots, in a soil only moderately rich ; or, if the seeds were started out of doors, the 
plants may be put in the border. Seed sown indoors in the fall or early winter, and the plants grown in the green- 
house, will show flowers in June or July, while plants from those sown in March or later will not come into flower 
till August and September, and some even later. Much, however, depends upon the treatment, those receiving 
.special care in pots blooming much sooner than those turned into a border or bed. 
Petunias. — Fill shallow boxes with fine, light soil, say an even mixture of leaf-mould and sand, and wet 
thorouglily by pouring on boiling water, which kills insects and heats the soil. When the soil has cooled suffi- 
ciently but is still warm, sow the seeds very thinly in the boxes, so that the plants may be 1 inch apart; cover 
seeds very slightly with a little sifted sand, and place slate or glass on top of the boxes. If the white root-points 
of germination appear before the leaves, sift on more sand and replace slate, and watch closely. When the small 
leaves appear, remove slate and give plenty of light, to produce strong, stocky plants. The soil may now need 
•water, which should be applied very gently, that the tiny seedlings may not be displaced. Later the larger plants 
may be transplanted from seed boxes into other boxes or pots. As the weakest plants frequently give the finest 
blossoms, care should be taken to preserve every plant until the blossoms appear. 
