THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



ryzj 



cortusoldes amavin and its varieties are most valuable for early 

 flovverinu;, and if lifted from the open ground and potted at once, 

 tliey will bloom superbly next spring. Tliey will not require 

 forcing, as by wintering them in a cold pit, and placing them in a 

 warm corner of the greenhouse, or in a warm pot, when they com- 

 mence to make new growth, they will bloom rather early in the 

 spring, and add very materially to the general effect. The more 

 recently introduced Frimula japonlcci is also eftective when "rown 

 in pots, and bloomed under glass. This also blooms early without 

 forcing. The lovely Spircea palmata is remarkably eftective when 

 forced, and with ordinary care can be grown to a large size in two 

 or three years. It should be purchased and grown a year at least 

 before it is forced, as the small plants usually supplied are not of 

 sufficient size to pay for forcing the following spring. 



Five or six inch pots should be used according to the size of 

 the clumps, and, as far as practicable, the smaller of the two sizes 

 should be employed. It is not needful to have more than half an 

 inch space between the pot and the roots, but there must be space 

 enough for a little soil to be put between the roots and the sides of 

 the pot. In preparing the pots, place a few crocks in the bottom, 

 and cover with a little of the roughest part of the compost, then 

 put a handful of soil upon which to rest the roots, and proceed to 

 fill all round with soil; and in doing this, press it firmly and 

 regularly with the potting-stick, which may be made of a piece of 

 lath. It is necessary to press the soil regularly to prevent the 

 water running away quickly down one side. As a rule, the crowns of 

 the Lily of the Valley, Dielytras, and other things of a similar 

 character, should be just covered. It is not necessary to prepare a 

 special compost, as any light friable stuff will do for filling the 

 pots with. After the potting is completed, place them in a pit 

 where they can be protected from frost until they are transferable 

 to the forcing-pit. All the plants of which mention has been 

 made may be forced most successfully in a pit filled with leaves 

 or manure, or a mixture of both ; or they may also, of course, be 

 forced in a house or pit heated with hot water. Even in pits fur- 

 nished with a service of hot water pipes, it is a good plan to make 

 up a bed of fermenting materials, in which to plunge the pots, as 

 the warmth of the soil encourages the roots to push out freely, and 

 it need hardly be said that the growth is, as a rule, more s:itisfactory 

 when a healthy root action is insured previous to the development of 

 tbliage and flower stems. Newly gathered leaves are better than 

 manure, because the heat is steadier and more lasting. Spent hops 

 as procured from the brewery are also most useful, as they give off 

 & steady heat, and where they can be procured at a cheap rate, as is 

 frequently the case in the neighbourhood of large towns, they can 

 be employed with advantage. They are used largely by the market- 

 growers, and better evidence of their value could not well be 

 brought forward. If the bed is formed with stable manure a 

 thermometer should be insf^rted in it, for if the heat is much in 

 excess of So'^, a danger will exist of the roots being injured. If 

 the bed happens to be too hot, stand the pots upon it and plunge 



November. 



