140 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ June, 
provided bright sunshine is intercepted by shading. A close pit or frame is the 
best place in which to start them. 
There are different opinions as to the best method of potting these plants. 
Some pot single dormant tubers at once into the pots in which they are to grow; 
others place five or more tubers in a pot. I have grown them both ways, and 
prefer the single plants well grown, as they attain ample size, and show off the 
proportions of the plants to better advantage than they do when placed in groups, 
which necessitates, moreover, the use of large, cumbersome pots. Single plants, 
18 in. to 2 ft. in diameter, may be grown from one bulb in a season, in 7-in., 
8-in., or 9-in. pots, which are ample ; in fact, the most compact and suitable 
plants for room decoration are those grown in 5-in. and 6-in. pots, and freely 
fed with manure-water, as the roots become matted, which serves to keep the 
leafage in a healthy state, and encourages those glorious pyramids of bloom for 
which they are so much prized. In the early stages of growth, the plants must 
never be allowed to become pot-bound,' but must be shifted on as they require 
it, care being at all times taken that they receive no sudden check, but are kept 
briskly growing in a humid atmosphere. The pots should be plunged in bottom- 
heat, near to the glass, during the period of active growth. There are those 
who object to syringing overhead, and certainly it should not be indulged in to 
excess ; at the same time, Gesneras are subject to red-spider if the atmosphere is 
at all arid, and this must be kept in check. I have never known blotching to 
arise from slightly dewing them overhead with the syringe, when the houses are 
closed in the afternoon. It is when water is cast upon them recklessly, especially 
in the morning, when the sun is allowed to fall directly upon the leaves, that 
scalding and blotching ensue ; and as Gesneras are very liable to suffer from 
direct sunshine, it is particularly necessary that they should be shaded early in 
the morning. 
The best soil in which to pot the plants as they progress, is a compost of two- 
parts fibrous loam to one of fibrous peat, leaf-soil, and rotten manure in about 
equal parts, with a liberal admixture of sand and charcoal to ensure porosity. 
Pot moderately firm, and thoroughly drain the pots, as they do best in a shallow 
compost, and dislike anything in the shape of stagnant moisture hanging about 
the roots. Always keep the plants near to the glass, afford ample room for the 
development of the foliage, give an abundant supply of water during the season 
of active growth, and encourage with manure-water only when the pots be¬ 
come well filled with roots. As the growth becomes mature, remove them to 
any structure where they can be gradually inured to stand under freer exposure. 
During the summer months they will stand with the benefit of solar warmth 
alone, whereas during the winter they soon succumb if placed in a temperature 
under 50 , the most desirable heat in which to bring the plants forward being from 
o5 to 60 . It is true that for table adornment or room decoration, for which 
purposes these plants are so suitable, they may be made available for a night or 
two during winter, but the blooms quickly succumb if they are long subjected 
