74 BRITISH FLORAL DECORATION 



growth that you possibly can into them by 

 November, and then leave them almost alone till 

 the middle or end of January, according to season. 

 Keep them and the house on the dry side, giving 

 plenty of air on all bright days, and if you have a 

 flow and return pipe, give the house just enough heat 

 to prevent the damp hanging about, but do not leave 

 the heat on when not really necessary. During this 

 period the pots will be quietly filling with roots, and 

 when the days begin to draw out the plants will 

 grow like weeds. 



When the flowering stems are well up and the 

 buds are beginning to swell, but never before, a 

 little judicious feeding with liquid sheep manure 

 will be found very beneficial. Ordinary plant-foods 

 are too strong and are risky. The house should 

 be shaded when the flowers are bursting or 

 they will become very pale before they are fully 

 developed. 



For table decorations, unless the table is a very 

 large one, Malmaisons are too heavy to use alone, 

 and are greatly improved by the addition of an 

 equal number of Tree Carnations, and I give below 

 a few good varieties to go with them. 



Princess of Wales with Fair Maid, Mrs. M. Burnett, or 

 Winsor. 



