SINGLE-STEMMED PLANTS 53 



done with the utmost skill it is not as satisfactory as divi- 

 sion. Plants in small pots will, of course, be put out with 

 the mass of soil and roots unbroken, as there would be no 

 benefit in any disturbance. The soil must be made firm, 

 but it should not be trodden down as hard as the proverbial 

 macadamised road, as is occasionally done, and especial 

 care must be taken in this operation if the soil is on the 

 wet side when the work is done, or it will settle down into 

 a close mass, impenetrable alike by water or air. In the 

 possible event of this occurring, the first available oppor- 

 tunity must be taken of opening it up, but be careful that 

 the roots are not disturbed in the process ; unless air can 

 penetrate, it is certain that the progress will not be as good 

 as it ought to be, and as it must be to give the best blooms. 



Unless the plants are grown exclusively with a view to 

 the production of exhibition flowers, it is improbable that 

 they will be restricted to single stems. It is true that when 

 they are sown as thickly as Mustard and Cress, and thinning 

 is entirely neglected, they will only develop single stems, and 

 poor ones at that ; but if all parts of the plant have the 

 benefit of unobstructed light and fresh air there may be 

 any number from two to six stems, according to the fancy 

 of the grower ; but the more there are, the further must 

 the individual plants be set apart. 



In most instances plants having three stems in a space 

 of 15 or 1 8 inches, preferably the latter, will give quite 



