CHAPTER V 



CULTIVATION OF CHOICE FLOWERS FOR 

 EXHIBITION AND OTHER PURPOSES 



"Are not Pansies emblems meet for thoughts? 

 The pure, the chequer'd-gay and deep by turns : 

 A line for every mood, the bright things wear 

 In their soft velvet coat." 



THE cultivation of the choicest flowers is an entirely 

 different matter from ordinary border-culture. To obtain 

 such flowers as are frequently seen at the flower-shows, 

 measuring 3 inches to 3^ inches in diameter, of splendid 

 colours and beautiful form, requires very skilful culture. 

 In the chapter on the rooting or striking of cuttings, every- 

 thing that is necessary to know about raising the plants 

 is related in full. In this chapter will be described the 

 preparation of the beds to receive the young plants, and the 

 treatment to be given them afterwards. In the large nurseries 

 where Pansies and Violas are grown for exhibition pur- 

 poses, it is usual to have long beds about 6 feet wide, so that 

 the plants can easily be protected by being " sashed " that 

 is, by sashes or lights being placed over the beds, to pro- 

 tect them from storms a week or so before the flowers are 



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