104 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



to this department of gardening. In procuring young plants select 

 those that are dwarf and bushy and in vigorous health, carefully 

 avoiding pot-bound straggling examples ; for when in perfect health 

 and under good management some attention is required to produce 

 dwarf compact specimens, and there is little chance of beginners 

 effecting this unless they secure proper plants to commence with. 



In order to obtain the greatest possible amount of growth the 

 first season, the plants should be in hand, ready to be placed in a 

 growing temperature early in March ; but if obtained in the present 

 season, with good management, they will make great progress before 

 autumn. There is, however, no time to be lost by those who may 

 purpose to make a commencement this season. On receiving young 

 plants from the nursery the first thing to be done is to examine the 

 drainage, etc., and if this is defective clear away the sodden soil, 

 injuring the roots as little as possible, and repot in the same sized 

 pots after securing perfect drainage ; but in case the roots are found 

 to be abundant and active, shift into a pot a size larger. As to 

 situation and temperature, a position close to the glass, where the 

 plants will receive all the light possible, is essential to the produc- 

 tion of short-jointed wood during the spring months ; this should 

 be secured with a moist temperature ranging from 45° to 50°, 

 allowing it to rise 10° or 15° by day with air. A gentle 

 sprinkling overhead on the mornings and afternoons of bright 

 days will be beneficial ; water must, however, be cautiously 

 supplied at the root, and with a moist atmosphere, but little will 

 be needed until the plants start into free growth. It will be 

 necessary to tie out or peg down the main shoots, and if the plants 

 are leggy they should be cut back sufficiently to overcome this 

 defect ; but where necessary this should be done, and the plants 

 allowed to start into growth before shifting, for there is considerable 

 risk in cutting back fresh potted plants which are at ail delicate ; 

 when they are in vigorous growth they will require to have their 

 Bhoots frequently stopped ; and this should be done in a regular 

 manner, allowing the plants to make considerable progress, and the 

 bases of the young shoots to become tolerably ripe, when every 

 branch may be regularly pinched or cut back, and this may be 

 followed up till about the middle of July. When the weather 

 becomes mild, the plants had better be removed to a cold frame or 

 pit, taking care that they do not sustain any check by the change. 

 Here less attentiou will serve to properly care for them than if they 

 were retained in a lofty house containing a miscellaneous collection 

 of plants. Air should be admitted pretty freely, except during the 

 prevalence of drying winds, when the lights should be raised on 

 the sheltered side and the temperature kept down by throwing a 

 slight screen over the glass ; indeed, this will be beneficial for a few 

 hours in the middle of the day, provided it is used only on bright 

 days, not kept on too long, and discontinued early in autumn ; but 

 beginners are very apt to shade too much. 



If all goes on well, a second shift will be necessary, probably in 

 June, and vigorous specimens may be afforded a rather liberal shift 

 at this season, observing to give it when they are in active growth, 



