292 HOW TO GROW SPECIMEN PLANTS. 



not be as large, nor could they show so many flowers with- 

 out being drawn. As now shown, they are always drawn, 

 and legs or supports are given them because drawn plants 

 cannot support themselves. 



This mode of exhibition is a perversion of the nature of 

 the plant, and we can see no remedy for it unless it is in 

 the power of the judges to control it by giving the pref- 

 erence to plants naturally grown, and without legs or 

 supports. 



In our remarks we do not, of course, moan to include 

 climbers, half- climbers, or trailers; we only censure growing 

 azaleas on hoops, pelargoniums on sticks, et id omne 

 genus. 



The best growers freely acknowledge that props are 

 objectionable, for the reasons we have given above, but 

 they are necessary while size remains so captivating as it 

 is at present, and he is the best artist, we cannot say 

 gardener, who can make his props the least conspicuous. 



The cultivation of plants for show, then, involves an 

 early and intimate acquaintance with the use of supports, 

 and in proportion as a man acquires this, he becomes care- 

 less as to whether his plants are drawn or not. He 

 stops his plants back that they may make more shoots 



