THE FLORAE WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
279 
three or four together, according to their habits. Every piping 
of pinks and carnations must be in the ground or pots at once, if 
you wish them to stand the winter. The secret of preserving these 
beautiful plants is to secure plenty of roots. Pinks and carnations 
cannot endure much moisture, and they must, therefore, have 
plenty of drainage, abundance of air, and be planted liigh on the 
ground. The same remarks apply to auriculas and polyanthus, et 
hoc genus omne. Some people treat plants as they do children — 
they love to make them comfortable, and they tuck them up with 
mould to keep them warm, until warmth and damp combined destroy 
them. The natives of the Alps and dry extended plains cannot be 
petted in this way with impunity. 
HARDENBERGIAS. 
HESE are, for the most part, free-growing, profuse- 
blooming plants, which are so admirably adapted for 
the decoration of the greenhouse or conservatory, during 
the spring and early summer months, as to make it 
worth while to grow them in pots for that purpose. 
Cultivated in this way, it is no difficult matter to have some of the 
species in flower early in March, or to retard them till May ; and if 
plants are prepared for early blooming, by ripening the wood well in 
autumn, and keeping them cool during the early winter months, 
very little excitement will be needed in order to flower them even in 
February. Plants obtained at the present season from a nursery, 
may be placed in a cool airy park of the greenhouse, where they may 
remain during the winter, and will require little attention beyond 
a proper supply of water, unless they are pot-bound when received, 
in which case they should have a small shift, and be kept rather 
close for a month or six weeks, in order to induce the roots to strike 
into the fresh soil. Early in March, or as soon after as convenient, 
place them in a moist-growing temperature of about 45° at night, 
and 55° by day, where they will soon start into growth. Have an 
eye to the state of the roots, and have soil, etc., in readiness for 
shifting, such plants as may have well filled their pots with healthy 
roots, but defer shifting generally until the roots require pot-room, 
and be careful to have the balls and fresh soil in a moist, healthy, 
state before repotting the plants. A slight increase of temperature 
with a corresponding amount of moisture in the atmosphere, will be 
found beneficial for fresh-potted plants, in inducing active growth, 
and avoiding the necessity of giving much water to the soil until 
the roots can lay hold of it. When the plants start into vigorous 
growth, a liberal supply of water at the root will be necessary, and 
air should be admitted freely on every favourable occasion, avoiding, 
however, cold drying currents, and during the early part of spring 
the plants should occupy a position where they will receive all the 
light possible. Towards the middle of May remove them to a cold 
.pit, which will form a very suitable situation for them during the 
September. 
