HOW TO GROW SPECIMEN PLANTS. 289 



the plant bushy, and able to bear the weight of bloom 

 and foliage ; the former is best for climbers, or half- 

 climbers, but is much used by those \vho grow their plants 

 quickly; the shoots are weak, and without supports the 

 plant would have no shape ; the latter is the true way, 

 but the plants must be grown slowly, as otherwise the 

 requisite stoutness cannot be attained. 



The one rule to be observed, whether in growing speci- 

 men plants for exhibition or for home decoration, is, Grow 

 your plants slowly, 



We copy a few hints from an English work, where the 

 author condemns growing plants with supports, but 

 acknowledging that thus more blooms may be brought 

 into sight, declares it necessary in competing for prizes, 

 as the plants thus grown bear carriage well, which those 

 naturally grown do not. The distinction observed in his 

 remarks is between plants naturally grown or raised for 

 home decoration, and those artificially supported or grown 

 for exhibition. We have also, in many instances, changed 

 the language, and made many interpolations, in order to 

 adapt the article to our own locality ; we wish, however, to 

 give due credit to the writer, though in some things his 

 statements are erroneous : these we have corrected. 

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