CULTURE OF ACIIIMENES COCCINEA. 
205 
the size of. those produced by plants that are thus not allowed 
to dower at all. 
When I commenced cultivating this plant, I had only three 
dozen of the small imbricated tubers, which I potted into two 
48-sized pots, in a compost of two parts leaf-mould, one part 
turfy loam, and one part silver sand, with a little soot added to 
destroy the worms then in the soil : they were covered about 
half an inch with equal parts of leaf-mould and sand, and then 
placed in a propagating-frame, on a bottom heat of between 80° 
and 85°. When the plants had attained the height of 4 inches, 
which was about the third week in April, they were potted in 
patches of three or four plants into 60-sized pots, using the 
compost I have before recommended ; and they were then placed 
on a bottom heat of between 85° and 90°. The atmosphere of 
the frame was not allowed to fall below 60° during the night, 
nor to rise above 90° during the day ; the latter was secured by 
the admission of air, and temporary shading from the scorching 
rays of the mid-day sun„ The plants were shifted as often as 
they required, until they were finally put, some into 32-sized, 
and some into 24-sized pots. The plants in these pots averaged 
feet in circumference, and 20 inches in height; vthose in the 
32-sized pots were about the same size, but they required a 
greater supply of water, and also shed their flowers sooner than 
the others. Great caution is requisite in the watering of these 
plants, and on proper attention in this respect I think the suc¬ 
cess greatly depends. My practice was to look over the plants 
every afternoon, about an hour before the sun left the frame, 
and water those Which required it, at the root; the plants were 
then sprinkled over with water from a very fine syringe, and the 
lights shut down quite close, in which state they remained until 
about ten o’clock, when a small quantity of air was given : this 
must be regulated according to the situation of the frame, the 
state of the bed, and the weather. I object to watering in the 
early part of the day; for I have observed that, after evening 
watering, moisture, having the appearance of very fine dew, is 
deposited on the leaves ; and this, which is not observed when 
morning watering is practised, I am convinced, assists materially 
in feeding the plants. I have frequently observed that, when this 
dew was in any way washed off in the morning, the plants would 
look languid through the day, and were much easier injured by the 
sun. 
