Exhibition Plants. 67 



with tiie rapid growth as it progresses. Wire hoops fastened 

 to sticks serve admirably for tying the shoots where a spread- 

 ing, bushy plant is desired. There must be three or more to 

 each plant to give it a good form. The wire can easily be 

 cut with pliers and slipped out, as it is best to remove it 

 when staged for exhibition. String should be used for the 

 main stem branches, but raffia or matting will do for the later- 

 als. Remove all the large stakes possible at the same time 

 as you do the wire, if plants will be be safe without them, and 

 preserve its shape during the show without their assistance, for 

 nothing can be more unsightly than a forest of sticks in a pot, 

 with only a small branch or lateral tied to each. The center 

 stake, of course, cannot well be dispensed with, but outside 

 of this as few as possible should be used. By commencing 

 early with the tying, as soon as the plants begin to make their 

 growth, a more natural appearance can be given the plant 

 than if much growth is made before the tying operation is 

 commenced. Carefully tie up the laterals about two weeks 

 before they come into bloom. This gives the shoots a chance 

 to turn their buds to the light and assume a more natural 

 appearance when in flower than if just tied down. 



Many people raise their voices against this system of tying 

 altogether, as it is unnatural, and although from a truly artis- 

 tic standpoint the trained specimens may not be all we 

 desire, to follow nature's course would be to leave our 

 choicest blooms to become bedraggled in the mud, and the 

 training and tying become a necessity. It is of course desir- 

 able, when art must be brought to our assistance at all, to 

 bring into harmony with nature, adopting the system best 

 adapted to our convenience and the beauty of our plants. 



A stout stake in the centre, to which all the shoots are looped 

 u r <; io about all the training the chrysanthemum receives in 

 England, in many establishments, when grown only for con- 

 servatory decoration ; but for exhibition purpose the English 



