If any of the stove plants, as lately recommended, have been brought
into the conservatory, they will require a free admission of air at
every favourable opportunity to keep the atmosphere of the house dry.
The plants must be kept clear of decaying leaves and flowers. Some
judgment is also required in watering recently repotted plants, that
they may not be injured by saturation in cloudy weather, nor by drought
in hot sunny days.
The growth of twiners should be carefully regulated, allowing them
sufficient freedom to develope their natural habits as far as other
considerations will permit.
Continue to shift the hardwooded plants as they require it. A turfy
compost of three-parts sandy heath soil of a fibrous and rather lumpy
character, and one-part loam, will suit the majority. Particular
attention should be paid to the drainage, more especially to the crock
at the bottom; for if that is flat, and not hollow, it matters but
little how much depth of drainage material rests upon it, the soil will
soon become saturated and sour. Remember that the final shift should be
given in good time to those intended to flower in the autumn.
Calceolarias (Herbaceous).--Sow seeds; the compost to be equal parts of
peat or leaf mould, loam, and rotten dung, with a small portion of sand.
Place a layer of broken crocks two inches thick at the bottom of the
pot; then fill up within half an inch of the rim with the compost,
passed through a fine seive. After the pot has been gently struck on the
potting-bench to settle the soil, the surface must then be made level
with a flat piece of wood, or the bottom of a small garden pan or
saucer. Sprinkle the seeds regularly over the surface, do not cover with
soil, and water with a fine rose; then to be placed in a cold frame, and
be kept shaded from the sun.
Chorozema.--The beauty of this genus for early spring display is
generally appreciated, and, therefore, requires no commendation from
me. They delight, like most other New Holland plants, in sandy peat
containing plenty of fibre, and require plenty of air at all times, and
also to be kept constantly moist, but never very wet. A large pot and
frequent stopping will soon produce a fine specimen.
Chrysanthemums.--Continue to top the plants that have been planted out
in the open ground.
Epacris.--The varieties of this genus are most useful for the adornment
of the conservatory in early spring. They delight in fibrous peat,
broken rough, mixed with fine white sand. The young plants to be
frequently stopped by pinching off the points of the shoots while
growing, to induce them to throw out laterals; those again to be stopped
until the plants have attained a size sufficient to warrant their
blooming.
Gardenias.--If any have been removed to the conservatory while in
bloom they should be returned to heat as soon as the bloom is over,
to encourage growth and to allow them sufficient time to mature their
growth.
Eutaxia myrtifolia.--It is a profuse and early bloomer. During the
summer and autumn every new shoot should be stopped as soon as it has
attained two or, at most, three joints: by such treatment it can be
easily formed into a neat, compact specimen.
Winter Flowers.--The Cinerarias, Chinese Primroses, Heliotropes,
Perpetual, Tea, and other Roses, will require frequent and diligent
attention as to watering, shifting, &c.