372 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GLIDE. 
which is of the gi’eatest consequence towards obtaining rapid growth, 
and shading, etc., is more conveniently effected here than elsewhere. 
During the early part of the summer, the sashes should be shut 
down early in the afternoon, after moistening the specimens over- 
head with the syringe, raising them late in the evening ; and on 
soft, warm nights after the middle of July, the sashes may be left 
off for the night, exposing the plants to the night dews. A second 
shift will probably be required about the end of June ; this, how- 
ever, will depend upon the health of the specimens, etc., and should 
be given as soon as the pots may be filled with roots, both to pre- 
vent any check of the growth at this season, and also to get the 
pots moderately well filled with roots previous to winter. In Sep- 
tember the plants should be gradually inured to full exposure 
to sun and air, removing them on the occurrence of cold damp 
weather or drenching rains, to a light airy part of the greenhouse, 
and supplying them very carefully with water, especially any recently 
potted specimens. If the young wood has been properly ripened, 
an abundant display of blossoms may be obtained at almost any time 
after November, by removing the plants into a gentle moist heat, 
but unless the wood has been well matured it will be better to leave 
them to bloom in the greenhouse. After blooming, cut back the 
shoots pretty closely, and allow the plants a fortnight’s rest in a cool 
house, giving very little water to the soil ; then remove them to a 
moist growing temperature, and as soon as they start in growth shift 
into pots a size larger, observing the same caution in watering, etc., 
as directed for last year. As soon as active growth commences, give 
air more freely, and gradually prepare the plants for removal to the 
greenhouse, from which they should be removed to a sheltered place 
out of doors for the summer, but care must be observed not to sud- 
denly expose them to bright sunshine ; indeed, a situation shaded 
from the forenoon sun should be afforded them during summer. By 
using means to check the growth early in autumn, and to get the 
wood well ripened in September, the plants may be had in bloom 
most of the winter. The Styphelia requires a soil comprised of 
prime rich fibry peat, with a sufficient admixture of sharp silver sand, 
to insure the rapid percolation of water through the mass after the 
decay of the fibre, and a sprinkling of lumpy charcoal or small 
potsherds is also useful. 
EMBELLISHMENTS OF THE GARDEN. 
( Continued from page 344 .) 
RTIFICIAL stone is not always to be depended on, for 
it is sometimes found to consist of common plaster 
coated with cement. This would not matter provided 
the duplex material would hold together with the in- 
tegrity of a homogeneous mass. But it happens that 
when frost follows long continued rain, the outside cement and the 
inside plaster expand in different degrees, and when the thaw takes 
