ON THE CULTIVATION OF ACHIMENES. 
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The engra^'iIlg■ exemplifies tliis effect, in which the architectural and regular forms of a piece of 
balustrade and a sun-dial, find a certain degree of analogy in the artificial arches formed by some 
cropped limes, •while the tone of colour of the latter accords 'svith that of the u-regular shi'ubbery 
beyond, and thus the blending betTreen art and natui-e becomes gradxial and pleasing. But the various 
effects to be produced by terraces, vases, statuary, artificial water, fountaius, &c., I must discuss 
separately. 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF ACHIMENES. 
By Me. JOHN KEITH, Spinfield, BucKiKGHAjisHrRE. 
SUPPOSING the tubers are at rest in the pots in which they flowered during last year, about the 
beginning of January, I generally start the first batch, after having selected a few pots of each 
sort that had flowered earliest. I proceed by filling some shallow pans, within about two inches of the 
top, with a mixtui-e of leaf mould and silver sand, after which I shake the tubers out of the old soil, 
and place them in the pans at about half-an-inch apart, covering them with the same mistui-e. I am 
aware that I depart from the usual practice of many, by not starting them in the pots in which they 
flowered. My reason for so doing is this, that by placing them in the pans, the tubers are all one 
distance from the surface ; consequently they all appear at the same time, and ai-e more robust than when 
started in the old soil, and escape the risk of being mutilated when being disengaged from theii- old 
bed ; which, with the utmost care, I find is often the case with the latter mode. After this operation 
is accomphshed, I place them in a pit, with dung heat, ranging fi-om 70 to 80 degrees, giving water 
verv cautiously until they appear above the soil. Indeed, they only require as much as to keep 
the soil moist, but not wet. "^'iTien they have attained the height of four inches, I transfer them at 
once to then- blooming pots ; the size of the pots being regulated by the object to be attained. For 
the stage of a common greenhouse I find an eight-inch pot the most convenient size ; but for large 
masses I use thirteen-inch pots. The compost I use is equal parts of loam, peat, leaf mould, and well- 
decomposed cow-dung, with as much silver sand as will give the whole a grayish appearance. If to 
be had, I use charcoal, both for mixing with the soil and placing at the bottom instead of potsherds, to 
the depth of two inches, over which I place a layer of moss to prevent the soil from getting amongst 
the di'ainage. I consider good di'ainage an essential point in pot cultivation. After filling the pot 
with the compost to witliin three inches of the top, I give a gentle rap on the bench to settle the soil, 
then placing the plants on the sm-face, and filling up round the plants with soil, mitil the pot 
is full, I give it another rap on the bench, to settle the soil more perfectlj' about the plants. 
I complete the process by giving the whole a gentle watering through a fine rose, and replacing 
them again in the same heat, keeping the pit close for a few days until the plants get a httle 
established. About sixteen plants to an eight-inch pot, of such vai'ieties as A. longifloi-a, grandi- 
flora, patens, &c., will make a nice specimen ; the stronger growing varieties, such as peduncu- 
lata, hirsuta, &c., requii'e to be planted much thinner, and, if stopped two or three times dui'ing the 
growing season, they will form fine bushes. After the plants get established in their pots, I give 
them air on all favourable occasions, always keeping a nice moist atmosphere, which is highlv bene- 
ficial. Care must be taken to keep a due supply of moistm-e to the roots, avoiding excesses as much as 
possible. As the suns ray's become more powerful, shading with thin canvas will be necessaiy. 
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