SPECIMEN PLANTS 9 



of the pot and the plant stands in the center. While held in this position 

 fill in sufficient soil and firm gently with a stick around the pot, until it 

 is filled level with the original ball of earth. If the soil is retentive and 

 rather wet, the ramming process can be carried to extremes, but if of a 

 light nature, it should be made rather firm, and when the final potting is 

 done, it can scarcely be carried to excess. 



Stopping The term "stopping" means pinching out the center of a 

 shoot, and the object is to force the plant to make several growths instead 

 of the present one. 



When the plants are established in four-inch pots, they are generally 

 from four to six inches high, and at this stage the pinching and stopping 

 begins. This should be done a few days before repotting or deferred until 

 after the plants have made roots into the new soil. This induces the 

 plant to make several side shoots, and as soon as these have attained 

 four or five inches in length they are again stopped. This work is repeated 

 throughout the season up to August 10th. Some of the varieties may 

 be stopped a trifle later, but each cultivator must know the flowering time 

 of those under his care. The early varieties set bud earlier, and it may be 

 wise to discontinue stopping some of these as early as August 1st. By 

 April 1st to 15th the plants should be in full vigor and ready to shift into 

 six-inch pots; with this potting use a richer soil by adding to the ordinary 

 compost a dusting of wood ashes, and a little pulverized sheep manure. 

 The latter should be used in very small proportions. 



Drainage Free drainage is essential and we would recommend char- 

 coal to be used for such varieties as are liable to burn. Coal ashes are 

 also a good material for this purpose and may be used as advantageously 

 tis broken crocks. Pot firmly when the soil is light, and loosely when 

 the soil is heavy. At this stage the plants are carefully observed, their 

 manner of growth noted, also tendency to break, and liability to disease. 

 The good as well as the bad points are almost certain to appear during 

 April, and only such as promise well are shifted up to the largest sizes. 

 Some of the varieties have the habit of setting premature buds at this 

 stage of growth. Such conditions are unfavorable to the production of 

 fine specimens, although the greater majority will outgrow this defect 

 after the blooming period has passed. 



From 1st to 15th of May another shift will be necessary and this time 

 into seven or eight-inch pots, according to the varieties. The weaker- 

 growing should be put into the smaller size, and the stronger ones into 

 the largest. As the plants at this season begin to assume some size, and 

 owing to the higher temperature which prevails, the watering will need 

 constant attention. In repotting at this time, the plants should be set lo\v 

 enough in the pot to allow ample space for water, not less than an inch, 

 but better an inch and a half, to hold sufficient water to saturate all parts 

 of the soil. 



Final Potting The final potting occurs from June 1st to 15th ; for 

 this give a richer compost, using a rather rough open soil containing a 

 large portion of broken, half-decomposed sods. This must be packed 



