General Culture. 61 



middle of October there were flower buds as large as pigeon 

 eggs on many of them, and at this time the sash was put on> 

 chiefly on account of heavy rains, though abundance of ven- 

 tilation was given daily when the weather was favorable, until 

 the plants were through blooming. Toward the end of Octo- 

 ber, and early in November, the blooms began to open. The 

 foliage was thoroughly strong and healthy, and the flowers 

 enormous. Each variety was kept plainly labeled, so that 

 visitors could take lists of those which they liked best. This 

 display, in addition to that in another house, 100 by 20, filled 

 with trained specimens in pots, beside thousands of plants in 

 the open ground, was a sight that can be more easily imagined 

 than described. Hundreds of people visited the display 

 daily, and railroads gave special rates from all points, so that 

 for a period of three weeks the display was a common topic 

 of conversation for nearly a hundred miles around, while the 

 number of varieties and the proportions of the blooms were a 

 revelation to all. 



When the system of continuous pot culture is followed, the 

 soil becomes filled with roots in July and August, and the plants 

 then require constant attention to watering, as they are at 

 that time making that portion of their growth upon which 

 the flower buds appear. Rain or soft river water is best if 

 obtainable, but if hard or spring water must be used, it will 

 greatly improve by exposure to the sun for some hours in 

 troughs or tubs. When cultivated in pots they require more 

 water than when planted out in a border or square, and it is 

 also essential that they be provided with ample drainage, so 

 that all 'surplus water may run off quickly, as the plants re- 

 quire a thorough soaking when watered. Little surface 

 sprinklings are productive of more harm than good, as they 

 serve only to induce the roots to come near the surface to get 

 the benefit of them, and with the first neglect of watering, 

 they are destroyed by the hot sun. Nothing but a good soak- 



