Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/82

76 under a bell-glass. It is not advisable to keep cuttings of this class of plants either too close or too moist, on account of their succulent nature, and they must not be exposed to very strong light, more especially sunshine, until after they are nicely rooted. As soon as the cuttings begin to grow, they should be potted off either singly into 60’s, or, if a good specimen is wanted at the earliest possible moment, it is a very good plan to put three plants in a 48, and return the pots to a nice gentle hotbed until the young roots begin to feel the sides of the pots. The plants after this should be kept in a growing temperature moderately charged with humidity, say about 70° or 75°, and partially or wholly shaded from the sun, in proportion to the age of the plants and the clearness of the atmosphere. Specimens two or three years old will stand an amount of sunshine that would totally annihilate young tender plants a few months old that have been growing rather quickly. The temperature and atmospheric conditions of an early vinery are as close an approximation to the amount of heat, moisture, and shade experienced by them in their native localities and habitats as we can conveniently secure. They should have every encouragement to grow strong by being potted on as fast as they require it, until they reach 24’s or 16’s&mdash; either is a good size to flower them in, but the last size should not be exceeded; and they should be managed so that the growth is completed by the end of August, to afford plenty of time to ripen the wood, and induce an abundant formation of flower-buds. This end will be best secured by placing them in a comparatively cool and airy house for a time, and then throughout the whole of the winter and spring months they will flower abundantly in a warm greenhouse.

As soon as the flowering season is over of the winter blooming kinds&mdash;say, for sake of clearness, the middle of March&mdash;they must be pruned, but not too hard; and when they begin to make new shoots, take them out of the pots, reduce the ball of soil, and repot in the same size pots again. If the pots are then partially plunged in a bottom-heat of about 75° or 80°, the plants will speedily start into growth again. Bottom-heat is not indispensable, and equally as good growth will be made, though not so quickly, if they are placed upon the shelves of the stove or vinery. Keep rather dry at the roots until they begin to take possession of the fresh soil, and syringe