SPECIMEN PLANTS 13 



until the buds show color. It is, however, worthy to note that pink and 

 red varieties, including bronze, show lack of color and also burn easily 

 if feeding is continued too long. Clay's fertilizer is a good manure and 

 perfectly safe to use either as a liquid or top dressing mixed with a little 

 loam. Soot water at times and weak lime water will sweeten the soil. 

 The drainage must, however, be kept free, and this is sometimes diffi- 

 cult at the end of the season, when the pots are filled with roots. Punch- 

 ing holes through the ball to the drainage will generally relieve water- 

 logged plants. 



