ZONAL 



* "" 



322 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



being grown under glass, possibly in a crowded state. The pro- 

 vision of accommodation for the plants in spring presents one of 

 the real drawbacks to the culture of Zonals for bedding. During 



the winter there is very little trouble, 

 because the plants are quite small (those, 

 at all events, which were struck as 

 cuttings the previous summer), and they 

 will remain quiescent if the house is 

 cool. But with the warmth of spring 

 comes growth, and demands for more 



A, drainage; B, sand on the surface of the SpaCC, which IS UOt always provided 



soil; C, cuttings inserted at 4 in. apart. . . . . 



easily. Directly the weather permits, the 



plants should be put into frames or pits, but thick mats must 

 be kept handy for putting over the glass on cold nights. The 

 cooler the atmosphere and the nearer the 

 plants are to the glass, the sturdier they 

 will be. They will grow, but not rapidly. 



They should be kept in the boxes wherein 

 they were placed in autumn as long as pos- 

 sible, but not so long that they get very 

 crowded, as that weakens them. Rather 

 than this they ought to be put singly in 

 small pots say 3-inch or 4-inch. Full ex- 

 posure to the air should be given in fine 

 weather. Plants that are treated in this 

 way will be in excellent condition for plant- 



t1 - T MI 



ing in beds or boxes in May. In mild 



i . . , 1 . ., -in 



districts they may be put out at the middle 



of the month, but in cold localities the planting should be deferred 



until the end. 



Some growers of Zonals like to keep the old plants through the 

 winter, in order to save the housing of young stock. When they 

 lift the plants from the beds in autumn they prune in both branches 



SHOWING HOW TO TREAT A PLANT 

 FOR WINTER FLOWERING 



A shows the top pinched off; B, B, 

 side-shoots will grow afterwards 

 as denoted by the dotted lines. 



