126 
LESCHENAULTIAS. 
heads, about three inches high, and spreading the diameter of 
the pots. Some care was exercised in selecting the soil for 
them, and this is necessary, for without the proper quality we 
start upon a wrong basis ; peat, with plenty of decayed vegetable 
matter in it, and yet not too light, is the principal ingredient. 
It is not always to be had of this medium quality, but by careful 
selection a near approach may be made, and I would always 
endeavour to have it rather too porous than of the opposite ten¬ 
dency, because then the addition of a small proportion of fibrous 
loam will bring it to the requisite tenacity. Sand of the purest 
kind is always necessary, though, of course, in the more porous 
kinds of peat less is required than in those of the opposite cha¬ 
racter, still it may be used liberally under all circumstances, for 
no mischief can arise even if a little in excess. The plants in 
question were transferred from the small pots to others just 
double their size, the drainage being secured by an inch and a 
half of crocks in the bottom of each, over which a thin layer of 
moss was laid, the coarser portions of the soil next, and then, as 
the remainder was placed in the pots, small pieces of stone were 
mingled with it, the peat being merely broken up with the hand, 
retaining the roots in it. In potting, the neck of the stem was 
kept just level with the rim of the pot, which I believe to be 
the best position, as if lower, it is likely to suffer from being 
too wet, and if more elevated, it must always be dry, one extreme 
being as dangerous as the other; the soil was pressed moderately 
firm, and, after a gentle watering, they were set upon a shelf in 
the greenhouse, close to the glass of the roof, and where air 
could be admitted. Their progress here was so satisfactory, that 
by the middle of June they required to be again shifted. In the 
interim they had been regularly attended with water, and the 
young branches were drawn into form with small sticks, and 
had been twice stopped, being careful throughout the whole of 
the season to remove all flower-buds as they were produced. 
At the second repotting they were placed in twelve-inch pots, 
and deeming the greenhouse too confined for them at this 
season, they were placed in a cold frame, having a thick layer of 
ashes to stand on, and the lights were kept closed, and slightly 
shaded for a week or ten days, till it was supposed the plants 
were re-established, when air was liberally admitted, by throwing 
