THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
179 
half-ripened shoots of the current season planted in sandy peat, and 
placed in bottom heat under a hand-glass or bell-glass, will root with 
certainty in a short time. 
They should then be gradually exposed to the air of the house ; 
and when well established, they should be potted in three-iuch pots ; 
then plunge them into bottom-heat, with partial shade, and promote 
their growth in a rather high temperature, keeping up an abund- 
ance of moisture. By pursuing this system, fine bushy flowering 
plants may be produced the second season ; but the cultivation of 
this lovely plant must not rest here. We ought not to content 
ourselves with merely producing plants in six-inch pots, such as are 
brought to Covent Garden market ; for there is scarcely anything 
more attractive or more desirable than a well-grown specimen, in 
full flower, of either of the Gardenias. The soil most suitable for 
their successful culture is a part of our subject of great importance, 
for to the want of due attention to this may be ascribed many of 
those miserable-looking objects which disgrace our collections. A 
suitable compost may be made of the following materials : One-third 
turfy peat, one-third leaf-mould, and one-third thoroughly decom- 
posed cow-dung ; let these be well intermixed with an addition of 
one-sixth of the whole of pure silver-sand. Let the principles of 
draining and potting, pointed out in the former articles, be strictly 
adhered to, and let the following directions be put into practice, 
and the result will be satisfactory. Supposing a plant is required 
in all its beauty in summer, and this is only the natural season 
when any plant can be brought to perfection, place the plant in a 
close pit in early spring after being potted, and plunge the pot in a 
genial bottom-heat of 80° ; maintain a degree of 60° in the pit by 
night ; keep up a moderate but constant moisture, as the Gardenia 
delights in a warm and humid atmosphere, and with such encourage- 
ment the growth will be kindly and luxuriant. 
As the season advances, increase the temperature of the pit a 
few degrees, until it reaches 75° or 80° by night, and increase the 
size of the pot, should such appear to be necessary. This will 
scarcely, however, be requisite, as one good shift in a season will 
generally be sufficient for Gardeuias. Keep the soil in the pots 
moderately supplied with tepid water, but as vapour is constantly 
eseapiug, the supply of water to the roots must be carefully and 
relatively administered. 
A little liquid manure may also be beneficially applied during the 
period of rapid growth, and until the flowers make their appear- 
ance. This will be the time to begin to expose the plant gradually 
to a lower temperature, for it is only in the temperate climate of a 
greenhouse or drawing-room that this plant can be sufficiently 
estimated and enjoyed. When the flowering season is past, it 
should be followed by a season of repose, and the supply of moisture 
in some measure withheld, and this partial suspension of the active 
functions of the plant will advance the ripening and hardening of the 
wood, which has been produced iu an extremely excitable atmo- 
sphere; and this at the same time will promote the accumulation of 
June. 
