92 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
I have for years been in the habit of growing the Cineraria merely as a 
decorative plant, seldom attempting to produce fine specimens, and this for the 
simple reason, that when in bloom the flowers were cut so freely as very soon 
to spoil the shape of the best specimens, and also to destroy the interest which 
one might take in producing fine individual plants. It may appear a very 
simple matter for ladies and gentlemen to go into the conservatory and cut 
flowers when and where they like, and, undoubtedly, they may have a perfect 
right to do so, but they ought to remember, that it has a very discouraging 
effect upon the gardener, who cannot take that pride and interest in his work 
that he otherwise would do, were he allowed to cut the flowers himself. I 
have, however, occasionally grown very good specimens, which when in full 
bloom presented a uniform surface of bloom, 2|- feet in diameter. When thus 
grown the Cineraria is a splendid object, and one that amply repays the little 
extra attention that may be requisite. This, however, is a question of choice 
or convenience, for I do not believe that it takes more time or attention to grow 
good plants than it does to grow bad ones, the only difference being, that in the 
former case the necessary attention is perseveringly given; in the latter there 
are intervals of neglect. 
It is a question, I believe, undecided among growers, whether it is better to 
adhere strictly to named sorts of known merit, and propagate from side-shoots 
or offsets, or to trust to seed obtained from good sorts. I should adopt the 
latter method for growing plants expressly for decoration, but for exhibition 
purposes good named sorts are preferable. The only difficulty with them is 
that, after the high culture they have received, they are very apt to die-off 
after blooming. This, however, may be avoided to a certain extent by keeping 
duplicates of each sort, allowing one to grow and flower without any stimulus. 
In growing Cinerarias from named sorts, let the old plants continue flowering 
as long as they will, but do not allow the seed to ripen; simply pick off the 
dead flowers, but do not cut the stems down. After flowering the plants should 
be put into a cold frame, shaded from the midday sun, and gradually hardened, 
so that they may be placed out of doors in a rather shady spot by midsummer. 
They may remain in that position, simply receiving water occasionally, until 
August, when the offsets may be taken off and potted singly in small pots, 
using a soil composed of about two parts good mellow loam, one part leaf 
mould, and one part sand. When potted they should be placed in a frame, 
the lights kept on during the day, and shaded if necessary, but uncovered 
entirely at night, unless it should rain heavily, when they had better be 
sheltered with the lights. This treatment may continue until the nights become 
chilly; the lights may then be kept on at night, but so long as there is no 
danger of frost they should be tilted 2 or 3 inches. When the young plants 
have made a fair start they will grow rapidly; the aim should then be to keep 
them growing by potting them on as they require it. The main point in cul¬ 
tivating the Cineraria is to keep the plants growing freely while young. If 
this is carefully attended to no green fly will appear until the plants begin to 
flower; but should they receive any check at this time the leaves begin to 
curl, and green fly appears very quickly. By about the end of November they 
will be in their flowering-pots, which may be eight-inch, nine-inch, or ten-inch, 
as may be deemed advisable; but I have found that nine-inch pots are quite 
large enough for any purpose, and quite as good plants may be grown in them 
as in those of larger size. About New-year’s day the roots will have traversed 
nearly the whole of the soil in the pots, and then, and not till then, a little 
liquid manure may be given, but it should be very weak to begin with. It 
may be made by filling a tub with rain water, and only slightly colouring it 
with guano; then tie up a bag of soot and put it into the liquid, letting the 
