ETHER FORCING WITHOUT GREENHOUSE 221 



Other in the shape of an old-fashioned bou- 

 quet, and the plant was beautiful all through 

 January, when it was cut back, to make a 

 new growth for next season. 



"After it had been upstairs a day or so, 

 azalea Simon Mardner waked up and straight- 

 ened out its folded leaves, and many of them 

 fell off. The flower buds showed colour on 

 December 15th, and after that the plant took 

 up a great pace, and by Christmas time most 

 of the flowers were fully open. They are 

 just the color of the American Beauty rose, 

 having a richness of tone that Vervaeniana 

 lacks; but, for all of that, we prefer the pale 

 pink of the latter. Vervaeniana rather likes 

 sunshine, and will live comfortably in a warm 

 room. Simon Mardner, on the other hand, 

 hates sunshine even more than artificial heat. 

 In spite of being too warm sometimes, it 

 kept its good looks through January, but 

 by the middle of February was dead. Dead 

 from overwork and rush, no doubt. 



"Our most delightful success was with the 

 Marie le Gray lilac. In four days the leaf 

 buds began to swell. The first week in 

 December the white flowers began to unfold; 

 by the loth of the month the flowers were 



