August  It,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
123 
GROWING  CINERARIAS. 
It  is  possible  to  have  Cinerarias  in  bloom  from  November  to  April. 
They  are  very  fitting  plants  for  producing  a  showy  display,  whether 
they  bloom  in  autumn,  winter,  or  spring.  It  is  very  desirable  to  have 
a  number  of  plants  sufficiently  well  grown  in  6  or  7-inch  pots,  so  that 
they  may  begin  to  bloom  in  November,  for  with  good  treatment  they 
last  in  excellent  condition  a  considerable  time — in  tact,  it  is  easy  to 
retain  plants  that  develop  bloom  by  the  early  part  of  December  in 
attractive  form  over  Christmas.  To  be  thus  durable  they  should  be 
clean  and  healthy,  by  which  it  may  be  understood  that  the  roots  are 
plentiful  and  active,  the  leaves  large,  luxuriant,  and  free  from  aphis, 
or  the  disfiguring  markings  of  the  Cineraria  fiy. 
To  obtain  plants  ]  which  will  bloom  at  the  comparatively  early 
period  named,  seed  ought  to  be  sown  in  March  and  April.  There  is 
usually  not  much  trouble 
in  inducing  Cineraria  seed 
to  germinate,  provided 
good,  sweet,  light  soil  is 
placed  in  well-drained  pots 
or  pans,  and  only  just 
lightly  covered.  Shading 
from  strong  sun  and 
healthful  conditions  of 
moisture,  with  a  strength¬ 
ening  supply  of  air,  bring 
the  seedlings  on  steadily  to 
the  rough  leaf.  They 
enjoy  also  a  little  heat 
at  that  period,  probably 
because  it  is  accompanied 
by  genial  atmospheric 
moisture,  such  as  obtains 
in  a  greenhouse  tempera¬ 
ture.  The  seedlings  are 
subject  to  receive  a  check 
from  various  causes,  such 
as  being  overwatered, 
distressed  by  heat,  sun¬ 
shine,  or  placed  in  cold 
draughty  positions.  Checks 
of  this  kind  are  extremely 
detrimental  to  growth, 
which  is  made  more  diffi¬ 
cult  in  becoming  free  by 
the  attack  of  insects — an 
almost  certain  result  of 
checks. 
'iThe  best  treatment  to 
accord  seedling  Cinerarias 
is,  when  they  are  growing 
freely,  to  transfer  them  to 
a  frame,  where  at  first  a 
little  confinement  will  be 
desirable,  but  afterwards 
to  give  air 
commence 
gradually, 
give 
though  always 
from  a  point  where 
draughts  do  not  blow 
directly  upon  the  young 
plants.  Light  sprinklings 
frequently  will  be  better 
than  heavy  waterings,  as 
roots  are  not  then  nu¬ 
merous,  and  a  moist 
atmosphere  is  beneficial. 
Should  the  seedlings  be  crowded  the  sooner  will  it  be  necessary  to 
prick  out,  so  that  more  room  is  available  for  them  to  strengthen.  When 
not  crowded,  seed  having  been  sown  thinly,  it  is  frequently  possible  to 
lift  and  place  directly  in  small  pots  without  the  trouble  of  pricking  out. 
It  will  be  found,  however,  that  some  of  the  seedlings,  if  not 
crowded,  are  slow  growing  in  comparison  with  others,  the  reason 
being  that  they  are  of  a  choicer  character,  and  will  develop  into  plants 
producing  the  best  blooms.  Hence  every  encouragement  should  be 
given  to  these  by  carefully  moving  them  as  soon  as  possible  into  fresh 
soil.  Therefore  the  free  and  rapid  headway  which  some  seedlings 
make  is  not  proof  that  they  are  superior  in  quality,  but  usually  the 
reverse.  On  this  account  it  is  well  to  take  care  of  the  smallest 
seedling,  cultivating  it  well,  in  order  to  secure  the  best  results  from 
the  choicest  strains  of  seed.  PtaiH 
The  first  potting  may  be  given  into  3  and  4^ -inch  pots.  The 
latter  size  will  readily  accommodate  nice  strong  plants  that  have  been 
pricked  out  in  boxes  or  pans,  and  from  that  size  may  be  transferred  to 
7-inch  pots,  while  those  in  3-inch  pots  can  have  a  shift,  into  the  6-inch 
size.  Plants  in  the  latter  size  are  the  most  generally  useful  when  in 
full  bloom  for  various  forms  of  indoor  decoration.  Larger  plants  and 
pots  may  be  employed  also,  but  they  are  more  in  place  on  the 
conservatory  stages,  for  decorating  the  structure  and  affording  flowers 
for  cutting.  Cinerarias  being  rapid  growing  plants  require  rich,  light, 
and  porous  soil.  A  mixture  of  turfy  loam  and  leaf  soil  in  equal  parts, 
a  quarter  of  decomposed  manure,  the  same  quantity  of  silver  sand  and 
broken  charcoal,  will  form  a  suitable  mixture  for  the  various  pottings. 
Very  clean  and  dry  pots  ought  always  to  be  used  for  Cinerarias. 
The  succulent  roots  run  rapidly  to  the  outside  of  the  ball  of  soil,  and 
adhere  with  teuacitv  to  dirty  pots,  from  which  they  are  with  difficulty 
induced  to  become  detached,  but  with  clean  pots  the  roots  come  away 
freely.  This  is  a  little  matter  which  is  worth  mentioning,  as  the  use  ot 
clean  pots  is  frequently  ignored,  and  not  considered  of  any  importance. 
In  potting  be  careful  to  have  the  soil  moist.  Every  practical 
man  knows  the  importance 
of  this,  and  may  think 
everyone  else  does.  It  is 
mentioned,  however,  for 
fear  that  is  not  the  case, 
together  with  the  reason, 
which  is  this  : — Dry  soil  is 
not  suitable  for  roots  to 
travel  in,  and  to  make  it 
sufficiently  moist  after  pot¬ 
ting  would  cause  it  to  be 
sour  and  more  unsuitable 
for  rooting  in  than  when 
dry.  Therefore  the  happy 
medium  must  be  struck, 
and  as  far  as  possible  main¬ 
tained,  especially  just  after 
potting.  In  placing  young 
plants  in  pots  when  they 
have  previously  not  been 
in  those  receptacles,  some 
care  must  be  given  to  dis¬ 
tributing  the  roots  equally 
unless  they  are  lifted  with 
soil  attached,  in  which  case 
less  care  is  requisite,  as 
the  roots  are  properly  and 
naturally  distributed  in  the 
adhering  compost.  Drain 
the  pots  with  clean  crocks, 
and  over  them  place  a 
layer  of  the  rougher  parts 
of  the  soil.  Let  the  plants 
be  of  the  proper  height,  so 
that  the  crown  is  not 
buried  too  deeply  or  raised 
too  high.  Finally  fill  in 
with  compost,  generally 
■shaking  or  pressing  down 
gently  with  the  fingers. 
Potting  should  be  carried 
out  when  the  material 
becomes  plentifully  per¬ 
meated  with  roots,  but 
before  the  plant  is  root- 
bound.  The  plants  must 
be  kept  growing  vigorously 
until  the  pots  in  which 
they  are  to  bloom  are 
filled  with  roots.  I  his 
then  gives  a  natural  check 
to  the  plants,  which  causes  the  energy  hitherto  employed  iu  enlarging 
them  to  building  up  the  flower  stems  and  developing  the  flowers. 
Immediately  after  transplanting,  porting,  or  repotting,  the  plants 
must  be  kept  a” little  closer  in  the  frames  and  shaded  from  sunshine. 
Water  at  the  roots  will  not  be  needed  at  first,  but  light  synngmgs 
may  be  given  and  the  base  on  which  the  pots  stand  kept  moist.  Auer 
a  few  days,  however,  give  a  copious  watering,  and  then  wait  until  a 
similar  application  is  again  needed,  but  in  the  meantime  gent  y 
sprinkle  the  foliage  in  the  afternoon  or  evening  after  the  sun  has  left  the 
frame.  During  "settled  warm  weather  leave  off  lights  at  night.  the 
plants  appreciate  the  cool  night  air,  which  strengthens  the  toliage  by 
the  deposition  of  the  night  dews.  ,  ,  ,  .  .  . 
On  the  approach  of  very  frosty  weather  the  whole  of  the  P'ants 
would  be  better  in  a  house  or  pit  from  which  frost  can  be  excluded, 
but  not,  if  possible,  at  other  times  heated.  The  plants  will  be  all  the 
better  for  standing  on  a  moist  stage  where  light  in  abundance  can 
reach  them,  but  failing  such  a  position  place  them  on  a  shelf  near  the 
glass. 
Fig.  22. -Statue  of  Europa  in  Grimston  Park.  Seepage  128.) 
