THE GENUS PIMELEA. 
263 
small lumps of charcoal, these keep the mass open and porous, 
consequently assisting very eminently in the drainage so essential 
to the health of the plant; in potting the base of the plant’s stem 
should be kept a little above the level of the surrounding soil, so 
that, when finished, it may stand on the top of a little mound 
sufficiently elevated to throw the water from immediate contact 
with it: this is deserving particular care with the species P. 
spectabilis, or others that are found like it to be subject to 
sudden deaths. When placed in its pot, the plant should have 
the points of its shoots taken off, and the whole of them spread 
out in a manner to form the foundation of the future shape it is 
desired to assume; it will also be necessary to pay much atten¬ 
tion to this stopping and training until the plant has arrived at 
maturity, for all of them are naturally inclined to bloom so much, 
that if left to themselves a great share of the vigour a young 
specimen should possess will be expended in the production of 
flowers, to the manifest prevention of its progress, and the weaken¬ 
ing of its shoots ; it is far better to encourage the plant to grow 
for the first two seasons, and then have a fine display of flowers, 
than to allow it to bloom before maturity, bringing but a few at 
a time, and ending in a stunted-looking subject at last. 
For the summer season, a common pit or a sheltered part of the 
garden is most appropriate for the whole of the family, and in this 
position they will be required to be (t stopped” by pinching off the 
terminal bud in each shoot, at least three times in the course of the 
season, but this should not be continued later than the end of the 
September, unless the plants are desired to bloom at a late period 
in the spring. During the winter they should be kept in an airy 
part of the greenhouse, and have a moderate supply of water; 
though they are not liable to injury from this cause, nor are they 
subject to attacks of insects, mildew, or any of the thousand ills 
that exercise the patience of a gardener with most part of his 
charge, and on this account are well suited for an amateur’s col¬ 
lection, merely requiring to be kept from the frost, and to have 
plenty of air whenever it can be admitted. Where very fine 
specimens are desired, it is advisable to prevent the blooming 
until the required size is attained, as it is so much time gained, 
but as this is entirely a matter of taste or convenience, I may 
state it is only necessary to desist from the removal of the ter- 
