Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-15
WINTER FLOwERING PLANTS,


Edgar Sanders, in Prairie Farmer.
To have flowers coming into blossom In their
order involves the preparation for same some
months before-looking to that end in view.
With kinds Of q perennial character, this may
consist In keeping them in free growing con-
dition; pruning where necessary; reporting such
as may require it, and other mlnutia which the
different habits of the plants require; in fact,
constituting that knowledge acquired only by
years OF observation and study that 90 to make
up the qualifications OF gardener or good
plant-grower: With the plants now under con-
sideratiOn, however, the Cineraria, Calceo-
laria. and we might add, the Chinese Primula,
we have, every year, a new crop of plants en-
tirely, and. as any of them may be kept over.
1t is far better to SOW the seeds annually-as the
plants so raised are much more vigorous, and,
as rule, give greater satisfaction in the long
run.
1t Is usual to SOW the seed during the sum-
mer, some care being necessary in the early
stages of the young plants, to ward against
dampng of, as it is called. before the plants
get into the rough leaf. The best way is to
SOW the seed in shallow pans, the soil to be
kept uniformly moist and somewhat shaded;
the former is easily done by light covering
OF spOngy moss until the seeds begin to ger
inmate, when, of course. this must be grad
ually removed Some lay pane of glass over
the pan, and. If there is propagating. or
other house facing the north, one has the best
place for his work. If. however, you do not
find 1t the best take the coolest part of the
house, or shaded hot-bed, for the purpose.
AS soon as the plants are up enough to be
handled lift them carefully from the soil, leav-
ing those too weak for time longer, and
'prick" them out into other pans. care being
taken to plant them down to the base OF the
seed leaves; as soon as they are so treated they
are past their greatest danger, and only neg
lect of very grave character will kill them
after this.
Up to this time the soil should have been very
fne-well rotted leaf mold and sand, about equal
parts, are as good as anything for this purpose.
If the young plants are placed about an inch
apart in the pans, it will answer until the foliage
meets when each plant may be potted into two
inch pots, plunged in any suitable material,
placed In cold frame. and kept within foot of
the glass, which. except on the north side of a
building where the sun does not reach during
the middle of the day, or north exposed prop
agating house, must be kept carefully shaded.
The after cultivation will consist In reporting
into larger pots as the roots fill those they are
in, always giving the foliage plenty of room to
grOw-as upon this much depends-and a COM
plete exemption from green fly, red spider and
other pests, which. if allowed to get under head
way with any of these plants will surely prevent
them from becoming well-grown specimens Of
their respective kinds A fibrous loan, leaf
mold and sharp sand will grow any Of these
plants to perfection. At the proper time, when
they take their place In the greenhouse, they
must be kept near the glass; hence it is one
more often sees these plants doing better in the
low pitched houses Of the professional florist
than If grown in the usually higher pitched roof
Of the amateurs conservatory, where there is
no choice but the latter; then something may
be done by placing shelf up near the glass
while the plants are young. As they approach
the Towering period, when their beauty is re-
CURED for effect on the shelves. they will be
fairly well grown, even ii some distance from
the glass. The Chinese Primrose may, after the
plants have become established, be grown as
window plant, but the Calceolaria or the Cine
raria will not generally do very well grown oil
the winter in the window. Either of them can
always be obtained from the florists grown
ready to flower, and, as such, make excellent
window plants. giving by their profusion of
flower cheerful effect grouped among the
other miscellaneous plants Of the window.