k 



PENTSTEMONS 31 



must be sought for and ousted The loam should be 

 chopped with a sharp-edged spade rather than sifted. 

 Some good oak or beech leaf mould should be added to 

 the extent of half the bulk of the loam. Some thoroughly 

 rotted stable manure, sifted, may be added at the rate of 

 half a peck to the bushel of soil, or some finely pulverised 

 sheep manure such as VVellson's Plant Food, i pound to 

 the bushel, will make a rich compost. Coarse silver sand, 

 wood ashes, or powdered charcoal sprinkled through as 

 the compost is turned over, will keep the soil open and 

 sweet, and with such a compost the plants may be potted 

 with every prospect of success. Clean 6-inch pots with 

 eight or ten pieces of crock over the drainage-hole should 

 be used Press the soil quite firmly around the roots, and 

 leave an inch to the rim of the pot for watering. 



Plants for exhibition should be kept to one stem, 

 removing all side-shoots as soon as they can be pinched 

 out with thumb and finger. Those required for con- 

 servatory decoration should have the point of the main 

 stem pinched out when about 5 inches high. This will 

 cause side-stems to break out, and three or four of these 

 may be selected to grow on to maturity. The plants 

 should be grown in an airy position, and so long as 

 scorching sun-heat is avoided the more light and air the 

 better. Attend regularly to watering, and during warm 

 weather frequently syringe the plants overhead until 

 flower-buds begin to open. Upon the first appearance of 

 buds feeding may commence. Liquid manure made from 

 sheep, cow, or horse dung may be given, or, if preferred, 

 a small teaspoonful of some concentrated fertiliser may 

 be spread round the edge of the pot and gently watered 

 in, repcatitiL' tlic dose after ati interval of three weeks 

 or so. 



I'or o\! m spikes narrow tubular vases with 



wci^'htcd i nild be used, one spike to each vase 



being staged. This, of course, is applicable to classes 



