==Winter-flowering Stocks==.—­During the winter months Stocks afford an immense amount of pleasure.  They are particularly welcome at Christmas, and to insure flowering plants at that season of the year suitable varieties, such as Christmas Pink or Beauty of Nice, should be selected, and a start made in June.  As soon as the first leaf is attained, prick off three seedlings in a three-inch pot; place in a cool frame under a north wall, keeping the light off all day until they are ready for another shift into six-inch pots.  Use three parts of good yellow loam and one part of leaf-soil—­no sand.  Pot firmly and restore to the frame until the plants start growing, when they may be removed to the greenhouse.  Manure water, not too strong, once a week is beneficial, and pure water should be given sparingly.  Keep near the glass and ventilate freely.  Further sowings made in July and August will extend the supply of flowers.

==Spring-flowering Stocks==, which include the popular Brompton strain, come into flower in spring and early summer.  Although in some seasons it may answer to sow where the plants are required to bloom, the practice is too precarious to be risked generally.  A safer method is to sow in seed-pans in June or July.  Place these under shelter until the plants are an inch high, then stand them in the open for a week before transplanting.  Have ready a piece of freshly-dug soil, and on a dull day put them out at eight to twelve inches apart.  If the growth is too rapid during September, it may be advisable to lift them and plant again, for the winter must not find them soft and succulent.  There should be hard stems and sturdy growth to carry them through the cold weather.  In districts that are specially unfavourable it may be necessary to pot each plant singly in the 60-size, and plunge these in ashes in a cold frame, or under the shelter of a south wall, until severe weather is past, and they can then be turned out into the borders.

==Streptocarpus==

==Cape Primrose.  Tender perennial==

The hybrids are a very striking race, invaluable for greenhouse and conservatory decoration, producing a continuous succession of large trumpet-shaped flowers, embracing colours ranging from pure white, through lavender, purple, violet, rose, and red, to rich rosy-purple.  Sow very thinly from January to March in well-drained pots, and a dusting of fine soil will sufficiently cover the seed.  Place the pots in a temperature of 60 deg. to 65 deg., and take care that the soil is not allowed to become dry.  Prick off the seedlings when large enough to handle, keeping them in the temperature named until the final potting.  When established they thrive with ordinary attention in a greenhouse, and they winter well in a temperature ranging between 40 deg. and 50 deg..  Seed sown in January and February will produce plants which will come into bloom during the following June and July.