HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 167 
promising point above the soil. There will be little gained, however, by- 
stopping too soon, as, unless the ejes are prominent and the roots in a 
vigorous state, but few shoots will be produced ; therefore stopping should be 
deferred until the plant is well established in a 5-inch pot. Keep the plant 
growing as freely as possible during the season, repotting as may be neces- 
sary to afford the roots sufficient space, stopping a second time if there is a 
fair prospect of securing an increased number of shoots, and getting these 
moderately ripened before winter. It should be borne in mind, however, that 
unless the shoots are strong and well ripened, they will break out poorly in 
spring. The plants may be wintered in the cool end of the stove, keeping 
them near the glass, and giving no more water to the soil than will suffice 
to keep the foliage from flagging ; or they may be placed in any light situ- 
ation vrhere a temperature of about 55° is maintained. It will doubtless be 
necessary to grow the plants a second season before getting them sufficiently 
large to be worth notice as flowering specimens ; for unless a plant has 
some 20 to 30 strong, well-placed shoots it will hardly be possible to make 
anything like a first-rate specimen of it the following spring. Supposing, 
however, that the plant is in this state, which with ordinary care will easily 
be the case after a second season's growth, about the middle of February 
cut the shoots back to the lowest promising eyes, and reduce the ball, shak- 
ing away as much of the soil as can be done without seriously injuring the 
stronger roots, and after slightly pruning the roots, repot in the pot in 
which the plant is to bloom. As to the size of the pot, this must be regu- 
lated by the size of the specimen, &c. ; a 15-inch pot will be large enough for 
the growth of a fine specimen, and there will be more certainty of getting 
the plant to bloom freely by keeping the roots rather confined. After pot- 
ting, plunge in a mild bottom heat of about 85° where the night tempera- 
ture of 65° or 70° is maintained, letting it rise to 80° or 85° with sun heat. 
Keep the atmosphere moist, and sprinkle the plant lightly with the syringe 
every fine afternoon, but give water to the soil until the buds begin to push ; 
and if care is observed to have the soil for potting in a moist healthy state, 
no water will be necessary until the buds fairly start, and then only a mod- 
erate supply should be given, for too much would probably induce a gross 
habit of growth; therefore, until the shoots are fairly set for bloom, give 
water only when it is absolutely wanted, and then give a good soaking, so 
as to moisten the whole of the soil. When the buds have fairly started, 
and the roots appear to have got hold of the fresh soil, the plant should be 
lifted out of bottom heat and jjlaced in a rather airy part of the house, in 
order to prevent over luxuriant growth. As soon as the shoots are fairly 
