50 
THE FLORIST. 
after this period, should not be repeated, or the growth might not he 
strong enough to produce fine heads of bloom. 
In a succeeding season, after the bloom has died away, about March, 
the plant should be again introduced to a gentle heat; young wood 
suited for cuttings will soon be formed in abundance, and after a 
sufficient supply of these has been obtained, the plant should be allowed 
to become somewhat dry, and then the upper shoots should be cut back 
close, leaving only a pair of eyes above where the plant received its 
first stopping. The lower branches should be left entire (unless a 
straggling shoot should present itself, which might then be shortened 
back a little), but attention must ever be directed to these, as they 
will be found the most difficult to preserve in robustness and vigour. 
After the plant has put forth shoots from three to four inches in 
length, it should receive a shift into a larger pot, and be again afforded 
bottom-heat; a less amount of atmospheric heat will, however, in this 
season be needed: from 60° to 65° is enough, with an increase of 10° 
by day. The one shifting, too, will suffice for this season, and in all 
other respects the same treatment should follow as previously recom¬ 
mended, and in succeeding years alike. The soil most suitable for this 
plant is two-thirds light rich turfy loam, with one-third fibrous peat, 
used in as rough a state as possible, with sufficient sand to keep the 
soil open and porous. Charcoal broken to the size of Beans and freely 
mixed with the soil will be found very advantageous, as also a little 
crushed bones, the quantity of which should be increased as the plant 
advances in size ; ample drainage should at all times be secured. 
The plant is subject to thrips and red spider, but the first-named 
may be prevented by fumigation or sponging the leaves at intervals ; 
the latter by occasionally syringing the under surface of the leaves. 
In conclusion, I would add that the chief point to observe to ensure 
success is to allow the plant at no time to receive a check in hts young 
state. It should receive successive shillings into larger pots as often as 
it is found to require it, and never be allowed to become pot-bound ; 
and in its more active growing state, bottom-heat, with a high and 
moist atmospheric temperature, must be given, air being admitted at 
all favourable opportunities, and a situation chosen as near the glass as 
possible. The plant, moreover, should never be allowed to suffer for 
want of water, or the loss of the lower leaves will be the result, and the 
consequent disfigurement of the plant. After the flower-head is formed, 
weak manure water will be beneficial, and tend to preserve the foliage 
in health. Attention to these points, I feel assured, cannot fail to be 
gratifying in its result, and to bring its own reward. 
The accompanying drawing represents a plant under my care, in the 
third year of its growth. Its height is nearly six feet, and breadth 
nearly five feet; it produced in the first season twenty-three heads of 
bloom, several of which were from eight to nine inches in diameter ; 
the second season thirty-four heads of bloom, and now it gives promise, 
together with the lateral blooming points, of 112 heads of bloom. The 
drawing, I might add, was made in the early part of this month, when 
the blooming points were well up, but a month before the blooms might 
be expected to open. 
Wear House, Exeter. 
James Euston. 
