168 THE FLORIST, 



the completion of their growth, in the very depth of winter, or even 

 spring. But even these are benefited by full exposure in the 

 autumn; for it must never be forgotten that, though a plant may 

 not complete its growth before winter sets in, it may, by proper 

 exposure in the autumn, so elaborate and store up the proper juices, 

 as to induce almost invariably the flowering principle at the proper 

 season. To secure a healthy bloom in hard- wooded plants of all 

 kinds, the first point is to induce healthy and vigorous growth, and 

 then to secure its proper maturation or ripening. This can only be 

 achieved by proper exposure, not necessarily out of doors, but under 

 glass, by placing the plants in the lightest part of the house, and 

 also by admitting a free current of air to pass through them. 



The notion of starving a plant into bloom is perfectly ridiculous. 

 It would be as reasonable to attempt to starve a child into healthy 

 growth. What we want in plants difficult to bloom is healthy root- 

 action, and with it firm, strong, short-jointed wood in proper season ; 

 then mature it properly, and bloom is certain. We once purchased 

 a specimen-plant of Erica depressa, of a variety which, it was said, 

 never would bloom properly. The plant, though healthy-looking, 

 was exceedingly weak, through the attempt having been made to 

 starve it into bloom. I took an opposite course, potted it, and got 

 it into good growth ; and the following autumn almost every point 

 or shoot was studded with flower-buds. Through the autumn, from 

 June until September, the plant was placed in the full sun, the pot 

 being plunged in cinder-ashes, and nothing could answer more com- 

 pletely. Now this is confessedly one of the most difficult Heaths to 

 bloom satisfactorily ; but I am quite sure the failure arises more 

 from starving than from liberal treatment. 



Some good cultivators object to exposing many of the finer kinds 

 of greenhouse-plants to the open air at all, more especially the finer 

 kinds of Azaleas and Eriostemons. I do not like to expose them 

 until their growth is quite completed, and their blooming rendered 

 quite certain ; but then, I think, a few weeks in the open air, more 

 especially if they are not exposed to drenching rains, is very bene- 

 ficial to them. Great care, however, must be taken to get the 

 flower-buds of such Azaleas as Gledstanesii, variegata, and the like, 

 plump and full before the plants are turned out ; but the free-grow- 

 ing varieties bloom almost under any circumstances. The dews and 

 gentle rains of autumn have a very invigorating effect upon plants, 

 and if, in showery weather, the plants are laid upon their sides, they 

 are materially benefited, by the under side of the foliage being pro- 

 perly washed, and to some extent cleared of insects and bad foliage. 

 Cleanliness is the hinging-point of success in plant-management, and 

 hence too much attention cannot be devoted to it. If filth of any 

 kind is permitted to accumulate upon plants, insects soon follow ; 

 and the time necessary to extirpate them will be much greater 

 than what is required to keep the plants clean, to say nothing of the 

 superior appearance of plants so managed. 



Brooklands Nursery, Blackheath, Kent. W. P. Ayres. 



