48 THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



prevent, flowering. But in all cases there should be a 

 definite reason for pruning. Sometimes it may be necessary 

 to remove dead, worn-out, or weak wood, to shorten long and 

 straggling growth, or to thin out shoots that are either badly 

 placed or excessively numerous ; or it may be that flowers 

 are produced on the tips of the young wood, and that by 

 shortening some of the older wood the number of the shoots, 

 and therefore of flowers, can be increased. These are all 

 good reasons for pruning, but to cut merely for the sake of 

 cutting or from some vague idea that it is beneficial to shrubs, 

 is almost certain to do harm. 



Azaleas, ericas (heaths), rhododendrons, and other 

 shrubs of similar habit are sometimes grouped in nursery- 

 men's catalogues under the heading of x\merican plants, a 

 very misleading description, as they come from all over the 

 world, the majority of heaths, for instance, being natives of 

 the Cape, while several species grow wild in Britain. Unlike 

 most plants, they thrive hi acid soil and, as peat is acid, they 

 are usually found where it occurs. It is not, however, 

 essential for them. They w411 grow quite well in turfy loam 

 and sand, with an admixture of leaf-mould or decomposed 

 manure — rather more of the latter than usual. As lime 

 neutralises acidity, it is injurious to plants of this class, and 

 if there is much of it in the soil or in the water, may eventu- 

 ally kill them. Hard water should therefore never be given 

 to them. Either rain water should be specially set apart for 

 them, or if hard water from the tap must be used, it should 

 first be boiled and allowed to cool. When the hardness is 

 due to chalk (carbonate of calcium), a good deal will be 

 rendered insoluble by the boiling. 



Abutilon. — A genus of greenhouse evergreen plants 

 belonging to the Mallow family, with pendent bell-shaped 

 flowers of many beautiful shades of red and yellow as well as 

 white. They grow rapidly, but dwarf plants can be obtained 

 by striking cuttings in sandy soil in spring or autumn. They 

 flower throughout the season and, if the temperature is not 

 too low, also in winter. Firm potting in light, rich soil and 

 plenty of water while they are growing are their chief require- 



