3]8 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  8.  UOO. 
the  soil  is  prevented  by  placing  the  pan  in  a  moist  position  and  covering 
with  a  pane  of  glass  and  paper.  The  latter  must  not  remain  after  the 
seedlings  have  pushed  through  the  covering,  and  the  glass  may  be 
gradually  dispensed  with,  elevating  the  pan  close  to  the  light  in  an 
airy,  cool  greenhouse.  Shade  from  strong  sunshine,  and  when  the  soil 
shows  that  water  is  needed  immerse  the  pan  to  the  rim  in  tepid  water, 
not  to  flood  the  surface,  but  so  that  it  can  percolate  through  the 
soil  from  below.  Immediately  it  shows  on  the  surface 
withdraw  the  pan  from  the  water. 
If  the  seedlings  are  not  crowded  they  may  be  allowed 
to  progress  to  a  considerable  size  before  pricking  them  out 
§ingly  to  strengthen,  but  they  must  not  remain  in  the  seed 
pan  to  injure  one  another.  Similar  compost  to  that  used 
for  sowing  the  seeds  may  be  employed  for  the  trans¬ 
planting.  The  largest  plants  are  not  always  the  best, 
and  it  may  safely  be  asserted  that  those  seedlings  which 
take  the  lead  in  growth  are  not  the  plants  which  are 
capable  of  producing  the  best  flowers,  therefore  do  not 
discard  the  smaller.  Pricking  out  the  seedlings  is  essen- 
tial,  as  it  affords  them  room  to  grow,  and  causes  fibrous 
roots  to  be  developed,  which  are  of  great  assistance  when 
placing  the  plants  in  their  first  pots.  From  the  time  of 
pricking  out  the  seedlings,  which  may  be  done  in  pans  or 
boxes,  cold  frame  treatment  will  be  the  most  appropriate. 
If  the  frame  is  not  in  a  shady  position,  shade  the  seed¬ 
lings  from  strong  sunshine.  Sprinkling  the  plants  daily 
will  insure  sufficient  moisture  until  they  become  better 
established,  when  more  water  may  be  given. 
CINERARIA  CULTURE. 
CiNERABiAS  are  amongst  the  most  brilliant  of  greenhouse  plants, 
andjwithout  much  difficulty  they  may  be  had  in  bloom  late  in  autumn 
and  onwards  through  the  winter,  though  the  most  important  display  of 
fine  plants  and  large  heads  of  bloom  is  usually  found  in  February  or 
March.  The  chief  enemy  to  giiard  against  in  Cineraria  culture  is  the 
Fig.  28. — Cinerarias  at  Perry  Hill. 
aphis  or  green  fly,,  and  plants  in  or  approaching  blo.om  now  require  the  j 
coolest  of  treatment  consistent  with  keeping  out  frost  from  the 
structure  in  which  they  are  growing.  When  plants  become  attacked 
with  the  pests  they  ought  to  be  frequently  fumigated  with  tobacco 
paper  or  vaporised  with  nicotine,  the  latter  being  the  better  method. 
Special  attention  should  be  given  to  freeing  the  plants  previous  to 
flowering,  as  they  suffer  considerably  in  appearance  if  the  aphides  are  | 
allowed  to  increase  upon  them.  They  not  only  abstract  the  juices  from 
the  foliage,  and  cripple  growth,  but  they  leave  a  deposit  which  mars  , 
the  appearance  of  both  leaves  and  flowers.  ^ 
This  enemy  is  largely  encouraged  to  attack  the  plants  when 
they  stand  on  open  shelves  in  a  dry  heated  structure.  To  pre¬ 
vent  this  the  stage  should  be  covered  with  some  moisture-holding 
material,  and  the  heads  of  the  plants  situated  not  far  from  the 
glass.  A  temperature  of  40°’ to  50°  suits  Cinerarias  best,  and  in  it 
they  will  progress  healthily  and  steadily.  A  little  shade  is  beneficial 
to  the  plants  when  in  full  flower  during  March  or  April  in  strong 
sunshine.  At  this  period,  too,  the  pots  are  full  of  roots, 
therefore  watering  must  be  regular,  and  be  given  in 
sufficient  quantity  to  pass  through  the  whole  ball  of  soil 
and  roots  whenever  the  least  dryness  is  apparent  on  the 
surface.  Cinerarias  soon  feel  the  stint  of  w'ater,  and  the 
foliage  droops  and  is  distressed  in  consequence.  Liquid 
manure  may  be  given  to  healthy  plants  well  furnished 
with  roots,  but  not  before  they  show  flower  spikes,  and  it 
ought  never  to  be  applied  in  a  ptrong  state.  The  appli¬ 
cations  must  cease  when  the  blooms  begin  to  open  fully, 
sustaining  the  growth  afterwards  with  clear  water. 
Cinerarias  are  best  raised  from  seeds,  employing  a 
good  reliable  strain.  The  single  varieties  are  the  more 
useful.  For  an  autumn  display  sow  seeds  in  March  and 
April.  To  furnish  plants  for  the  spring  display  later 
sowings  in  May  or  June  are  soon  enough.  Prepare  shallow 
seed  pans  by  effectively  draining  with  a  well  placed  layer 
of  crooks,  covering  them  with  moss  or  clean  fibre,  so  that 
soil  cannot  be  washed  down  among  them.  Next  introduce 
the  compost,  which  should  be  composed  of  sweet  fibrous 
loam  and  leaf  soil  made  porous  with  sand.  Thoroughly 
mix  the  whole  together  into  a  moist,  but  not  a  wet  con¬ 
dition.  Fill  the  pan  to  the  brim,  level,  shake  down,  and 
press  smoothly.  Give  a  gentle  watering  with  a  fine  rosed  can,  and 
after  draining  sow  the  seeds  thinly  on  the  surface.!  A^^mere  dusting 
of  sand  or  soil  will  suffice  to  cover  the  seed. 
No  further  watering  should  be  needed  until  germination  has  taken 
place,  and  it  will  not  be  necessary  if  the  evaporation  of  moisture  from 
The  next  move  may  be  to  4-inch  pots,  using  a  compost 
of  two  parts  loam,  one  leaf  soil,  one  decomposed  manure, 
and  plenty  of  sand.  The  plants  grow  better  if  potted  rather  lightly. 
Place  them  in  a  cold  frame  in  a  north  aspect,  where  shading  will  not 
be  required.  The  pots  should  stand  on  a  moist  base  of  coal  ashes, 
which  also  excludes  worms  from  the  soil.  Maintain  the  frame  close 
for  a  time,  but  after  growth  has  recommenced  admit  air  more  freely. 
Sprinkle  the  plants  daily  in  dry  hot  weather,  and  afford  water  to  the 
roots  as  required.  Place  the  plants  in  larger  pots  when  these  have 
become  filled  with  roots,  still  continuing  frame  treatment  with  abun¬ 
dance  of  air.  In  July  and  August  the  lights  may  be  removed,  especially 
at  night,  so  that  they  may  receive  the  benefit  of  any  dew  which 
may  fall,  but  protect  the  plants  from  very  heavy  rains. 
Cineraria  stellata,  the  Star  Cineraria,  hybrids  of  C.  cruenta,  the 
result  of  crossing  the  old  C.  cruenta  with  the  greenhouse  variety, 
produces  large  heads  of  flowers  oh  long  stalks,  the  individual  blooms, 
however,  being  smaller  than  the  ordinary  single  Cinerarias.  It  is  free 
flowering,  and  admirable  for  decoration  and  cutting.  The  method  of 
cultivation  is  similar  to  that  accorded  the  ordinary  form.  For  certain 
Fig.  29. — Group  of  Cinekarias. 
positions  in  large  conservatories  it  is  splendidly  suited,  as  also  is  it  for 
providing  an  abundance  of  cut  flowers. — E.  D.  S. 
[Many  of  the  catalogues  issued  periodically  by  the  nurserymen  and 
seedsmen  of  this  country  are  fast  becoming  true  works  of  art,  and 
amongst  the  foremost  this  season  is  that  of  Messrs.  Carter  &  Co., 
