194 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
As regards winter temperature, a great mistake is frequently made in keep¬ 
ing it too high at night, allowing little repose, and giving no compensation for 
the expenditure of the day. From 67° to 70° will, I believe, be found a suit¬ 
able mean, while that of the day may range as high as 90 Q , more particularly 
if the digestive organs are strong, still to a great extent this should be governed 
by the state of the external atmosphere. 
Of late years we have been overwhelmed with an endless variety of Cu¬ 
cumbers, highly recommended by their patrons as unsurpassed for winter work. 
There are Rifleman, Commander-in-Chief, Volunteer, Prizetaker, and others 
whose name is legion, many of which I have tried; but among all I find none 
to equal or even approach Sion House in merit, and have confined my prin¬ 
cipal crops to this variety for many years past. 
Tortivorth Court . A. Cramb. 
NOTES ON THE CINERARIA. 
The Cineraria is the acknowledged favourite of every one, from the humblest 
amateur, who plants a pair of sashes on an old boxed-bed, and calls it a green¬ 
house, up to the noble lord, who rears his magnificent crystal temples conse¬ 
crated to Flora, and adorns them with the rare, the rich, and the most beautiful 
of her subjects. 
In every degree of this diversity of position we have an equal diversity of 
quality and appearance, from the splendid plant of 8 feet through, covered with 
innumerable and perfect blooms, with the broad massive leaves spread over the 
pot, down to the miserably ragged apologies without a leaf to cover the soil, 
struggling for an existence, with balls matted and dry, and weak flowers moving 
with green fly. 
It must not be supposed that the latter are invariably found in the humblest 
structures; the reverse is the case : the marble stand too often supports 
them, plunged to their necks among other plants which serve to screen their 
nakedness. 
To make a commencement, we will suppose the old plants after blooming 
have been cut over near to their pots, and are standing in a shaded, sheltered 
state, with their growths strong and healthy. Our hypothesis correct, about 
the beginning of August turn out the old balls, and remove the soil gently 
with the fingers until the stock-shoots are reached, carefully preserving the young 
rootlets, and with the point of a knife detach the strongest growths; retain 
double the number required of the strongest and most succulent, that there 
may be abundance to select from when the second potting takes place. The 
stock properly named, prepare a mixture composed of leaf mould, sand, and 
loam, in equal parts, and sift it through a fine riddle. Plant singly in pots 
3 inches in diameter, give a good soaking of water, then remove them to a 
cold frame behind the wall, plunging them to their rims in coal ashes or rotten 
leaves. Keep the frames close for a few days, and be especially careful to shade 
in sunshine. If the frame stand not sufficiently in the shade, sprinkle over¬ 
head, after hot dry days, in the evenings ; this will keep up a moist atmosphere, 
which the plants enjoy during the night. 
In the course of three weeks or a month, the plants will have filled their pots 
with roots, when the proper soil comes next into consideration. Let this consist 
of one part sand and leaf mould, one ditto cow-droppings that have lain in a 
heap for a year, and two parts rich fibry loam; throw the whole together, and 
chop well up, after which pass through a one-inch riddle, when it will be fit 
for use. Next crock a sufficient number of pots 6 inches in diameter, and 
place a few of the lumys of the compost over the crocks; and make a selection 
