The Garden Under Glass

92 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS flowering plant, when it is decidedly more useful than in the summer. It is a good plant for house and for table decoration, looks well in a conservatory, and is good as a cut flower. It is also eminently useful as a wall plant or a window plant. The singles do not travel as cut flowers as well as the doubles, unless into the eye of each pip is dropped some floral cement, but they do well for home decoration. I would advise that cuttings be inserted either in autumn or spring. If in spring—and this will usually be found the most convenient time—then the end of January may be chosen. By that time, in the course of culture which I am going to outline the plants will be almost past flowering. It is usual then to cut the old plants hard back—each growth to within a bud or two of its base—and to choose cuttings from the prunings. The old cut-back plants may be kept dry for a time, then be put into a moderate heat and be allowed to flower again in the summer. The cuttings are usually put five in a 3-inch pot and rooted on the open staging of a house with a temperature of about 6o°. Not until they are rooted, potted up and somewhat established in their single pots should a cooler place be chosen for them. Once they reach this stage they will go ahead well in cool conditions. Any good potting compost will suit them, provided it be fairly open. With two or three pinchings the plants may be made to form a nice bush. The flowering size of pot recommended is six inches, stimulants in the way of liquid cow manure and fortnightly dressings of Clay’s fertiliser being given when the plants fill their pots with roots. During the late spring months a cold frame with abund-ance of air is the best place for them, but af ter danger from frost has passed an open situation outside on a bed of cinder ashes will be preferable, until the beginning of September,