268 
THE ELORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
air whenever the weather permits. If the plants are at all strag- 
gling, the shoots should be tied down in nearly a horizontal position, 
and stopped to cause them to break close and form nice bushy foun- 
dations ; and the foliage, if at all infested with insects, should be 
carefully washed before placing them in heat. Attention must also 
be paid to the state of the roots, giving a moderate shift to such as 
have well filled their pots with active roots before placing them in 
growing circumstances. If in bottom-heat, the plants must be very 
sparingly watered for some time alter shifting ; for when the pots 
are plunged in any damp material, very little water is required, and 
inexperienced cultivators are apt to suppose that because the sur- 
face appears dry, the ball must be so also, and very often rot the 
roots by giving too much water. But in the case of young plants 
this little difficulty is easily overcome, as the pots can be easily 
lifted and weighed in the hand, which is the safest way of ascertain- 
ing the state of the soil a3 to moisture. Endeavour to keep the 
atmosphere regularly moist, and syringe the plants overhead on the 
evenings of fine days, and as the sun becomes powerful afford them 
a slight shade on the forenoons of bright days, but use this merely 
when necessary to prevent the leaves scorching. 
As the plants advance in growth, attend to keeping the shoots 
regularly tied out and stopped, so as to secure compact, bushy 
growth, and shift into larger pots before they sustain any check 
through the want of sufficient space for their roots. If properly 
attended to, the plants will make rapid progress, and will form nice- 
sized specimens in course of the season ; but if they are intended 
for flowering the following spring, they must not be kept growing 
later in the autumn than will allow of getting the voung w r ood well- 
ripened before winter, for unless this is attended to there may be 
some disappointment experienced through their not flowering freely ; 
but if good-sized specimens are desired, they should be encouraged 
to grow as late in autumn as strong short-jointed wood can be 
obtained. Shading should, of course, be discontinued as early in 
autumn as it can be safely dispensed with. When vigorous short- 
jointed wood cannot be obtained in autumn, remove the plants to 
a cooler house, where the atmosphere can be kept rather dry, and 
air admitted on fine days to ripen the wood. During winter they 
should be afforded a temperature of about 55°, and be kept rather 
sparingly supplied with water at the root. If treated a second 
season as recommended above, they will form nice-sized specimens ; 
but they must not be stopped too late in the autumn, as they will be 
expected to flower in the spring ; and the wood must be well- 
matured, to ensure having a profusion of fine large heads of bloom. 
While in flower they should be shaded from bright sunshine, and 
not kept too w r arm nor damp, as the flowers will last longer in a 
rather cool dry atmosphere. 
After flowering, and allowing the specimens a fortnight or so to 
recruit their energies, cut back any of the shoots as may be neces- 
sary to maintain a dwarf bushy habit, and thoroughly clean the 
foliage. Examine the state of the roots, and give a moderate shift 
if the ball is heavily matted with roots, and place them in a moist 
