JULY. 139 



flowering plants. Should you wish to keep any in bloom 

 longer than usual, cut off the tips of the pistils, and the 

 flowers will hang a week or more longer than they generally 

 do. Continue to shift as they require it, and you will soon 

 have fine specimen plants. Should thrips attack them, fumi- 

 gate strongly with tobacco two or three times a day during 

 two alternate days ; this will destroy this troublesome pest. 



The above has been kindly furnished us by Messrs. Ivery 

 and Son of the Dorking and Reigate Nurseries, the fortunate 

 raisers of the subjects of our present illustration. As regards 

 the beauty of the flowers little need be said, as the repre- 

 sentations will speak for themselves ; but we might perhaps 

 be permitted to draw attention to the Ehododendron mark- 

 ing in Criterion, which we regard as a step in the right direc- 

 tion. Both varieties were produced from seed saved from 

 Iveryana, Admiration being the result of fertilising with La- 

 teritia formosa and Criterion with Exquisite. They have 

 been much admired, and will no doubt speedily find their 

 way into every collection. 



WEATHERING GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



As this is the season when greenhouse plants are placed out of doors 

 for the purpose of v»^eathering and hardening their new wood, I will 

 endeavour to describe a plan for keeping them in their places, which 

 I have adopted, and which answers admirably. 



Having suiFered inconvenience from top-heavy plants, such as 

 Rhododendrons, Daphnes, Azaleas, Camellias, &c., being blown 

 about during high winds, and oftentimes capsized, to the injury 

 of their hmbs, — I have adopted the following course, and instead 

 of placing them on a platform of coal-ashes in the usual manner, 

 I made a wooden platform by placing some battens on the ground, 

 and nailing strips of deal across. On this platform I placed large 

 empty pots, 8's, 12's, and 16's, capable of holding the pots contain- 

 ing the greenhouse plants, to serve, in fact, as sockets ; and in order 

 to secure them from rocking, I passed iron rods through the side- 

 holes at the bottom, and tied them down to the rails of the platform. 

 A long iron rod was run through several in a row, sliding them to 

 the required distance, and a short rod through the third hole, the 

 end iron tied down ; each pot a socket in its place. Thus secured, 

 the plants have stood firm in all weathers ; and the outer j)ot, more- 

 over, protects the roots from the hot sun. 



This might be too troublesome a process for nurserymen, but it 

 is convenient for amateurs, as the platform can be laid on a green, 

 or on a gravel- walk, without detriment. 



J. H. B. 



