288 HOW TO GROW SPECIMEN PLANTS. 



and branches were, by a growth of a series of years, prepared 

 for the development, the display of flowers and fruit would 

 equal that of the same species in its native clime. In like 

 manner a bush, herb, or annual would attain all its full 

 luxuriance and proportions, and the art of growing speci- 

 men plants be simple indeed. But our space is limited, the 

 luxuriance of roots and branches must be restrained, and 

 the plant, by the cramping of the roots and pruning of the 

 branches, forced into early bloom. The desideratum is, 

 therefore, to obtain as much bloom as possible in a small 

 space. The question, How is this to be done ? we 

 answer, By growing specimen plants. 



It is a prevalent error that an illy-grown plant produces 

 more bloom than one well-grown ; the former may come 

 sooner into bloom, but the flowers will neither be as fine 

 or as plenty as on the latter. 



There are two methods of growing specimen plants: 

 one by confining the plant within a wire frame, and tying 

 out the shoots so as finally to hide it completely with 

 foliage and flowers, or by tying the shoots to stakes cause 

 them to assume a regular position, which stakes are soon 

 hidden by the foliage. The other method is, to grow the 

 plant slowly, so that the shoots become stout and stiff, 



