72 BRITISH FLORAL DECORATION 



with many of the largest growers of Malmaisons in 

 the country, and as I have always made this flower 

 a special study, I venture to offer here a few cultural 

 instructions, the observance of which is so positively 

 necessary that unless you are prepared to carry 

 them out, pretty much to the letter, you had 

 better turn your attention to something else. 



First of all, as I said before, a house with top 

 and side ventilation must be given them. Next, a 

 clean stock must be secured. 



Let us now assume that by the third week 

 in August, or earlier if possible, you have 100 well- 

 rooted plants in " 60 '' pots. 



Directly their roots get through to the side of 

 the pot they must go into " 32's," their first flower- 

 ing pot, but as they will have no further change 

 until they have flowered, great care must be taken 

 that the soil is a perfectly sweet mixture of two- 

 thirds old fibry loam, one-sixth leaf-mould, one- 

 sixth silver or grit sand and broken charcoal, or 

 bonfire refuse if procurable. 



If there is any fear of wireworm, it would be 

 advisable to burn the leaf-mould, or if possible, all 

 the soil, as this deadly pest is almost unassailable 

 if it gets well established in the pots. 



These plants will carry one fine bloom the follow- 



