Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/106

98 of coal-ashes in a cold frame. After the pots are well filled with roots, but before the plants have become pot-bound, shift them into five-inch pots, and as soon as they are well established in these, shift again; the strongest plants into eight-inch pots, and the others into pots one size larger, and that will be the last shift they will require.

The most suitable compost in which to grow these plants is one prepared by well incorporating together three parts turfy loam, and a fourth part consisting of equal quantities of decayed manure and leaf-mould. To this add a liberal sprinkling of sand, and if the loam is deficient in fibre, or the leaf-mould is not available, a small proportion of cocoa-nut fibre refuse may be added, to assist in keeping the mass open. It is scarcely necessary to say that the pots must be effectually drained to prevent the soil becoming sour.

After the plants have recovered from the effects of their removal from the seed-pan to the small pots, ventilate freely both night and day throughout the season, and until danger from frost may be apprehended, and then remove them to a cool and moderately airy house. The plants should be shaded from the direct rays of the sun during the months of June, July, and August. A mat thrown over the glass during the middle of the day when the sun is shining brightly, is all that is necessary in the form of shade.

Water carefully at all seasons, but more especially during the winter months. The best system of watering is to give sufficient to moisten every particle of soil within the pot, and then give no more until the soil has become somewhat dry again. Avoid the use of stimulants, and use soft water only. Liberal supplies of liquid manure are advised by some writers, but our advice is that it be not used at all, for it is more likely to do harm than good.

The whole stock should have a temperature of about 45° or 50° throughout the winter, as the plants from the second sowing will grow freely during that season. To produce large specimens, and also to prolong the season of flowering over as lengthened a period as possible, nip out the first flower-buds of the strongest plants of the second batch immediately they are sufficiently advanced. Do not attempt to keep plants a second season, no matter how promising they may appear, for if they remain in health, the flowers are always small in size and poor in colour, compared with young plants. There is no