370 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



syringe, but continue to give water in sufficiency at the roots ; and 

 once a week, from the first stage of forcing till the flowers are full 

 out, give them a dose of iveak liquid manure, made by steeping sheep 

 or deer dung in a tub, and using the solution in a quite clear state. 

 When fairly out, and indeed before they attain their fullest perfec- 

 tion, remove them to the conservatory, or wherever else they are to 

 be exhibited, and maintain for them a heat as near to 60' as 

 possible. 



When the flowering is over, the plants make their new growth 

 for the season. Indeed, this often commences while the flowers are 

 still at their best ; and, in my opinion, the little tufts of emerald 

 green leaves peeping out amongst the flowers intensifies the beauty 

 of the plants ; for what is colour, however rich, without a little 

 green to give relief? But some cultivators nip out these shoots in 

 order to preserve a dense and uniform mass of colour. Every one 

 to his taste. All I need say on the subject is, that nipping out these 

 shoots does the plants no harm, and so those who like to do it may. 



I am not in favour of turning out either camellias or azaleas 

 during the summer. I know that in many gardens it must be done, 

 because of the small extent of glass compared with the number of 

 plants cultivated. Certainly the splendid camellias at Chandler's 

 years ago, and in the present day at Messrs. A. Henderson's, Edgware 

 Road, and at Messrs. Yeitch's, Mr. Turner's, and in all the best 

 managed private gardens, are always under glass. Travellers tell us 

 that in their native climes these shrubs grow in damp, shady woods, 

 where tall trees tower, above them, and effectually screen them from 

 the sun. Therefore, to be always under glass, and effectually shaded 

 in the summer, is consistent with their natural habits. However, 

 those who must put them out are advised never to do so till the end 

 of May, then to choose for them a position equally sheltered from 

 wind and sun. Azaleas forced early must of necessity make all their 

 new growth in the house, and the best way to manage them is to 

 carry them back after they have flowered to the pit, or house, in which 

 they were forced, and there again let them have forcing treatment, 

 say a temperature of 55" by night, rising to 65'' or 70" by day, with 

 frequent syringing and watering, to encourage a free growth. At 

 the end of May, these may go out of doors with the rest, if 

 "turning out" is the practice of the garden. 



The subject of repotting is one of great importance. Many of 

 my best plants have been three years in their pots, but have been 

 annually top-dressed with thoroughly-decayed cow-manure, assisted 

 with liquid manure. As a rule it is desirable to give them a small 

 shift every year — that is to say, to shift them into the ?iexf size. 

 Any larger shift is more harm than good. I prefer to shift them in 

 autumn, after the growth of the season has become quite ripe, and 

 1 can feel the flower-buds in the points of the shoots. The opera- 

 tion is a very simple one. Turn out the plant, remove the crocks 

 from the bottom of the ball ; have the new pot ready to receive it, 

 with crocks regularly arranged for drainage, and covered with a 

 layer of tough, fibry peat, or nodules of very fibrous loam. Lower 

 the plant into its place without disturbing any of the roots, and fill 



