THE FLORIST. 
87 
flower have they generally been so unsuccessful. The great fault 
lies in the fruitless attempt to grow it in pots. Even under such 
excellent instructions as Mr. Neville has lately detailed in The Florist, 
it will not thrive, or shew half its luxuriance and beauties. 
It is not difficult to account for its impatience of pot-culture, 
which is perhaps referrible to several causes. Thus, when so cir¬ 
cumstanced, it is subjected to a lack of that degree of moisture so 
acceptable to it; which may arise from inattention to watering, 
lightness of soil, or drying of the pots. It may in part depend on 
the cramping of its roots ; for the Polyanthus grown in the open 
border is most prolific of long, thick, fleshy, fibrous roots. But 
chiefly, I conceive, is it dependant on the confinement within the 
cold frame, and which no attention to airing can obviate : inducing 
a paleness and softness in the leaves and flower-stem, strongly con¬ 
trasting with the firm, crisp, yet succulent and luxuriant green 
foliage of those which are grown^ the open bed. 
The only sure guidance in the artificial cultivation of a plant is 
the observance of its natural condition and habitat. And where 
grows the primrose, in its wild luxuriance, but in the shaded lane or 
woodland ? And though it is sometimes seen to adorn in the spring 
the sunny bank of a hedgerow, yet, ere the summer’s sun can visit 
it, even there it will be found that Flora has kindly sheltered her 
favourite amid the shadowing growth of others of her train. The 
Polyanthus, then, should always be grown in a cool bed, or open 
border, which has an eastern aspect, or which is otherwise wholly 
shaded from the summer’s sun; for it is most impatient of heat and 
drought, and, it may be added, of confinement and smoke also ; and 
hence it can never be well grown in the immediate vicinity of large 
towns. Good and retentive sod-soil from an old pasture, of this 
four parts, enriched with one other part of old cow-manure, and two 
of decaying leaves, or rough vegetable mould, afford it the most ac¬ 
ceptable medium of growth. Though the leaf-mould is not wholly 
necessary, yet it will ever be found, both in respect to the Auricula 
and the Polyanthus, that wherever there occurs in the soil a little 
mass of decaying leaves or sticks, there the roots will be most nu¬ 
merous and vigorous. Such practical hints, or natural tendencies, 
the observing florist ever treasures up; and it is by their observation 
and application that he becomes a more successful cultivator than 
his fellows. 
The proper time for planting is the last week of July—the end of 
their period of summer’s rest, and when the old plants have attained 
such maturity and size as to admit of easy division. It is most 
essential that this period of planting be strictly observed, in order 
that the plants may have all the advantages of their natural autumnal 
growth, and thereby of becoming thoroughly established in the soil 
before winter; thus ensuring a vigorous bloom in the spring, as well 
as obviating all chances of disease or death, from the severity or 
changes of weather in their winter season of rest. The plants should 
be carefully divided with a sharp knife, or neatly detached with the 
fingers if nearly separated, but not slit or tom up; though such 
