184 
THE FLORIST S JOURNAL. 
of the plant during the current season, I will begin with the 
period of rest. This usually takes place about the middle or 
end of October. A s soon as the foliage and stems have de¬ 
cayed the pot should be removed from the bark bed and placed 
in a dry part of the house—an elevated shelf is the best—at a 
distance from the fire, as all the heat necessary at this time is 
just sufficient to preserve the earth about the tubers from damp. 
Another pot, one size larger, should be inverted over it to pre¬ 
vent water or other moisture having access to the roots. A 
very great error is sometimes committed in leaving the root to 
start in the same pot and soil it grew in the previous year. The 
plant naturally requires about six months’ rest: consequently, 
should remain undisturbed till about the middle of March; 
when it should be shaken out of the old soil, taking care not to 
break them unless nature has shown where it is practicable to 
separate them easily. The soil used for repotting should be 
composed of about equal parts good sound loam and peat or 
heath-mould of good quality. The pots to be suited to the size 
of the root—those about six inches over are usually employed : 
and here it must be explained, the shoot for the ensuing year 
being formed at the base of the new tuber, in repotting the root 
should be inverted, placing the bottom upwards, or otherwise it 
has to struggle through the whole mass of earth contained in the 
pot, which it often fails in doing. In potting, therefore, the base 
of the tuber should be kept just above the surface of the earth in 
the pot, from whence as soon as it begins to grow it will emit 
fresh roots into the soil below ; it should be plunged into the bark 
bed of a stove or vinery, or placed in a cucumber frame, with a 
temperature of about 70°. But little water" is required at first, 
which should be increased as the plant grows. About the end of 
April, if growing strongly, another shift may be given—placing 
it this time in a large pot, with a soil similar to that before re¬ 
commended; at the same time securing a perfect drainage. 
The plant will now grow rapidly, and may be trained in any 
desirable form. Plenty of water should be given during the 
summer, with occasional syringing over head. 
With this treatment an abundant supply of its brilliant flowers 
and healthy roots at the same time are certain to be obtained. 
J. T. Bruce. 
