76 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



THE FINAL POTTING 



The final potting should be carried out before the end 

 of May, thus ensuring a long season of growth in the 

 flowering pots, and the potting must be done very firmly. 



When the final potting takes place, the plants should 

 be stood closely together as advised for the Japanese, 

 keeping them well sprayed overhead for a few days, and 

 watering in before the plants become too dry at the ball, 

 keeping them in this position till the roots are extending 

 freely in the new soil. When standing them out in their 

 permanent positions, the Incurved varieties should be kept 

 to themselves as they do not require the same amount of 

 feeding as the Japanese varieties. The pots should be stood 

 well apart, but as the foliage is not usually so large and 

 spreading, rather less room will suffice than for the Japanese. 



For some time after potting the plants will only require 

 a moderate quantity of water, but their needs must be 

 ascertained by gently tapping, and the soil should receive 

 a thorough soaking when dry and not a surface sprinkling 

 only. As the season advances and the plants become 

 larger a corresponding increase in the water supply will 

 be necessary, and the plants must be examined for this 

 purpose twice a -day, syringing them in the morning and 

 afternoon on all fine days. 



As soon as they make their first natural break, which 

 will be about the time they are removed out of doors, 

 the grower must decide how many shoots or blooms 

 each plant is to be allowed to develop, and for this 

 purpose the varieties may be conveniently divided into 

 two groups, the true Incurved varieties, and those with 



