292 
THE PLANT STOVE. 
little more strength, all that are not required 
to form a head should be taken off. Remove 
all that grow towards the centre, so that it 
may be kept open, and retain the best placed 
shoots which grow outwards, at as equal dis- 
tances as possible. Before they are far advanced 
they should be repotted into smaller pots. The 
former mass of earth must be nearly removed 
from amoDg the roots, and the roots themselves 
thinned, and cut in rather severely. A plant 
that has grown in an eight-inch pot may be 
reduced so as to get it into a five-inch one ; 
and a plant from a six-inch pot may be put in 
a three-inch one, and so on. This may be 
taken as a rough guide, but the strength of the 
plant and the number of the roots are the 
only proper guides in this respect. Pot the 
plants in a light loamy soil, of rather sandy 
texture, and be sure di-ain them well. After re- 
potting, they must be very cautiously watered 
for some time, until they begin to grow freely. 
A cool pit or frame is the best place for them 
henceforward until they are moved into the 
house, in the autumn. 
Calceolarias, ^-Encourage the growth of the 
young shoots for the purpose of propagation : 
they need not be made to acquire*. Sry much 
vigour, but just keep them in a clean healthy 
state ; and by having the plants in a cool 
frame they will be prevented, in great measure, 
from running up to flower, which is objection- 
able so far as propagation is concerned. As 
the plants go out of bloom, cut off the flower- 
stalks, renew the surface of the soil, and keep 
them regularly watered with the view of 
inducing a growth of young shoots for cut- 
tings. This applies specially to those distin- 
guished as half-shrubby varieties : those of 
decided shrubby habit generally furnish 
cuttings enough without difficulty. 
Cinerarias. — Separate and pot another batch 
of suckers of the different varieties of these 
plants, to flower in succession after those pre- 
viously prepared. The latter should He potted 
occasionally as they progress in growth. A 
little attention in securing successional plants 
will secure a display of these flowers all through 
the winter and spring ; and no flower is better 
adapted for ornamenting green-houses, or for 
cutting for bouquets. Cool pits are the best 
places for them in summer ; and if frost can 
be kept out, in winter too. 
Fiichsias. — Probably these are, by this time, 
in pots as large as may be convenient ; if so, 
and they are either in full bloom, or approach- 
ing that state, supply them with clear diluted 
liquid manure, every alternate watering. If 
they are later, give them another shift. Propa- 
gate such kinds as may happen to give satisfac- 
tion : for our parts we think the old-fashioned 
species, such as F. coccinea, gracilis, globosa, 
virgatn, macrostemma, &c, more beautiful than 
the new-fashioned dull-coloured hybrids. F. 
corymbiflora is a grand plant, when there is 
space to grow it large ; so is F. fulgens grandi- 
flora, and F. serratifolia, but they are not 
suitable for growing as small bushes. ' In the 
latter character, two or three of the old kinds 
of small growth, are very beautiful when 
nicely managed ; these are, F. microphylla, 
reflexa, cylindracea, thymifolia, &c. Shift on 
some of the younger plants to furnish bloom- 
ing specimens later in the season 
THE PLANT STOVE. 
Many of the plants may be removed to the 
green-house, and this will give more space for 
those that remain ; let them have the full 
advantage of it by placing them thinly, in 
order that they may get as much light as pos- 
sible in every part. 
Temperature, tyc. — Keep up a strong moist 
heat — on an average 60 degrees by day, and 
65 to 70 degrees at night — which may be done 
by closing the house in the afternoon, while 
the sun shines on it, and keeping the walls and 
floors, &c. continually moist. Admit fresh air 
in the earlier part of the day: the directions at 
p, 253 may also be referred to with advantage. 
Watering. — As a matter of course this 
operation must be carefully attended to, but at 
this season the plants require a liberal supply. 
The stronger kinds may get a little manure 
water once a week. AVhere any of the bulbous 
or tuberous rooted plants are approaching 
maturity, let the supply of water be gradually 
lessened, and when the leaves are become yel- 
low, it may be quite — or almost entirely — 
suspended. 
Potting and Pruning may be continued 
when necessary : in particular let that modifi- 
cation of the latter called " stopping," which 
is, pinching out the points of the shoots when 
young, be closely followed up to secure bushy 
plants. 
Red Spider and other insects, such as the 
Thrip, are apt to be troublesome when the 
weather gets hot. The best preventive is a 
hot moist atmosphere, which is also best for 
the plants ; it is a hot dry air that encourages 
them. Syringing with clear soot water is said 
to dislodge them ; and sulphur vivum, smeared 
on the pipes or walls where the sun will 
reach it, also raises an effluvium which is dis- 
tasteful to them. 
Luculias. — Discontinue stopping the young 
shoots of these when heads of flowers are 
wanted, as they will hardly flower at all, or 
very weakly, if this is longer continued. The 
plants may be taken to the green-house. 
Ixora, and many similar stove shrubs, may 
be propagated by cuttings, which will take 
root if planted in sandy^soil, and placed in 
moist heat. 
