18 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
flower much earlier, so that they come in useful for in-door decoration during 
the winter months; and the loss of the plants, owing to the dry atmosphere of 
the rooms, is of little consequence, as a fresh quantity can be easily grown from 
seed for another season. 
Formerly, 1 grew a number of the best named sorts then out, but often lost 
one or more of them after they had done flowering. I also found that even when 
I had the offsets potted as early as possible, and with every care and attention, 
afterwards with regard to shading, shifting, and watering, I could rarely bring 
the plants forward enough to flower freely before the end of February. 
Since I have taken to growing seedlings I have had the plants in flower in 
October and very fine during the winter months, when they are most valuable. 
I generally make two sowings—one in the first week in April, and the other in 
the last week in May. The plants from the April-sown seed flower during the 
autumn and winter months, and those from the May-sown seed during the 
winter and spring. 
I sow t the seeds in well-drained pots or pans, using a compost of one part 
of light friable loam, and two parts leaf mould, with a little sand. I cover the 
seeds very lightly, place the pans in a little heat, and keep them as near the 
glass as possible. As soon as the seedlings are large enough they are pricked 
out into pans or boxes and then put into a little heat; in a short time they 
will be large enough to be potted-off singly into small pots. The plants from 
the seed sown in April will be large enough to be potted off singly towards the 
middle or latter part of May. A cold frame will then suit them very well, keeping 
it rather close until they begin to grow, when air should be given freely during 
the day. They must be well attended to in watering, and also in shading in very 
bright weather ; after the 1 st of June the lights may be taken off at night if the 
weather be mild and warm. About the middle of June the plants will require 
shifting into larger-sized pots, using a compost of about equal parts loam and leaf 
soil, with a little white sand ; when potted the whole of them are placed at the 
back of a north wall, where they receive a little of the afternoon’s sun. I give 
them no shading, nor any protection whatever, but they are well attended to in 
watering. 
About the beginning of August I shift the plants into the pots in which 
they are to flower. The plants are left in the same situation until towards the 
latter part of September if the weather is mild ; by that time they will begin 
to throw up their flower-stems : they are then taken into the houses and placed 
near the glass, where they have plenty of air, and where they are safe from 
frost. Some of the most forward plants begin to flower in the latter part of 
October, and the others bloom in succession during the autumn and winter 
months. The night temperature is not allowed to fall below 45°. 
The plants from the May-sown seed are treated in a somewhat similar way, 
with the exception that I have some spare lights put over them in hot 
weather and during thunder showers. I give them their final shift in the latter 
part of September. When housed they are kept in a little heat, but air is 
given at all favourable opportunities. If any green fly appear on the plants, 
they are immediately fumigated with tobacco paper. 
It will be seen that I have very little trouble with the plants, and as most 
of them are used for in-door decorations they are generally thrown away after 
they are brought out. If the seed has been saved from a good collection of 
choice kinds (and seedsmen will find it their interest to be particular in attend¬ 
ing to this matter, as few people will be satisfied with a lot of worthless seed- 
out of a quantity of plants there will sometimes be a few good varieties 
—these should not be used for in-doors, but be left to flower in the conservatory 
or greenhouse. After they have ceased flowering, the flower-stems are cut down 
