THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
45 
to be started a few days before it is used. It is certainly bad 
practice to use compost in a cold and wet state ; for apart from the 
injury likely to be done to the roots, a loss of time must take place, 
whilst the soil is becoming of the proper temperature. 
There are several good ways of potting the roots, but as it would 
require considerable space for the description of all of them, I shall 
confine my attention to the most simple, by which successful results 
may be obtained. For small conservatories, specimens grown in six- 
inch pots will be quite large enough, and in every way suitable. It 
will perhaps be desirable to grow a few in pots one size smaller, as 
they are very useful for standing in vases in the drawing-room, and 
some of the varieties with bright flowers have a very effective appear- 
ance on the dinner-table. First of all place in the bottom of the pots 
about two inches of crocks broken rather small, and cover them with 
any rough material that may be at hand, then fill the pots with the 
prepared compost to within about an inch of the rim, pressing it firm 
as it is filled in ; make the surface level, and lay the roots regularly 
over it, at the rate of twelve for the larger and eight for the smaller 
sized pots. Cover the roots with about half an inch of the finest 
portion of the compost, and place the pots in a pit or house where 
a temperature of about 70 deg. is maintained. The soil must be 
maintained in a moderately moist condition until the young plants 
begin to show above the surface, and then the water supply will 
require increasing. They enjoy a rather liberal amount of atmo- 
spheric humidity during the early stages of growth, and it will be of 
great assistance if they are sprinkled overhead once a day with tepid 
water. In all cases, it will be well to remark that the water must 
be a few degrees warmer than the temperature of the house or pit. 
The after management consists in supplying the plants with 
water as they require, sprinkling them overhead occasionally, and 
tying out the shoots. The sticks used should be neat, and put to the 
plants when the growth is about three inches in height. The shoots 
can then be tied to the stakes as required, and when the plants come 
into flower the tops of the stakes can be removed if they are higher 
than the shoots. 
After the plants have made considerable progress they should 
have a place rather near the glass, and the foliage screened from the 
sun. After the beginning of May they can be grown in any structure 
that can be kept rather close, to enable the cultivator to husband the 
sun-heat, and afford the plants the desired degree of warmth. As 
they come into flower remove them to the conservatory, where, with 
ordinary good management, they will remain in good condition for a 
very considerable period. 
The old established varieties are so well known as to render it 
unnecessary to allude to them ; and I will therefore content myself 
with giving the names of the newer introductions, which should be 
added to the most select collection. The names and most distinctive 
colours are as follows : — 
Admiration . — A good variety, of free robust habit; the flowers 
are ot immense size, and of a rich deep rose colour ; free blooming 
and attractive. 
February. 
