1S7'J. ] 
HOAV TO GROW CINERARIAS. 
87 
Specimen Cineraria. 
running north and south. Careful watering is 
now necessary ; the plants must be kept moist 
at the roots, but the foliage should not be 
wetted, nor the water splashed over the pots. 
The plants that are not stopped require no 
tying or training; but specimen plants must 
be trained by fastening a wire round the pot 
under the rim, and gently drawing the shoots 
down to this with a strip of matting. 
When the roots have nearly filled the pots 
in which they are intended to flower (and an 
8-in. or 9-in. pot is sufficient for the largest 
specimen), they should receive manure-water 
twice a week—sheep-manure answering well 
for this purpose. Put half-a-bushel into a 
barrel with 15 gallons of vvater, stir the mass 
well up, and let it settle for about 24 hours, 
and before applying it reduce its strength by 
adding an equal quantity of rain-water. Cow- 
manure also makes an excellent liquid to water 
with ; it is not so strong as sheep-manure, and 
a larger proportion of it may be used to the 
same quantity of water. Guano-water, and 
that formed by the soaking of horse-droppings, 
seem to encourage too much the development 
of leaves. In using manure-water it is most 
desirable to err on the side of its being too 
weak, rather than too strong, for an overdose 
destroys the young rootlets, and the plants are 
then past remedy. 
After March 1st, it will be necessary to shade 
if the flowers are open, but to preserve the 
bloom as long as possible, the shading must not 
be used thus early except to obstruct the direct 
rays of the sun. Let the plants have as much 
light as possible. It is objectionable to paint 
the glass with any sort of wash, for the reason 
that the plants are thus shaded at times 
when it is desirable that they should receive 
all the light possible. 
The most popular method of propagating 
the Cineraria is by means of seeds. Sow in 
May or June in light soil. When the small 
plants are large enough to handle, prick them 
out about six or nine in a 4-in. pot, and when 
these have grown so that the leaves touch each 
