6i8 



Gardening for Amateurs 



manure to the loam to form a suitable 

 compost, while plenty of sand is necessary. 

 Cuttings which are inserted late, and con- 

 sequently do not need potting until autumn, 

 are better if given a very small shift, or none 

 at all, as it is essential that the roots are 



Hydrangea in 12-inch flower pot, bearing 130 



established in the new soil before winter. 

 During the autumn expose the plants to 

 the sunshine, leaving the frame open day 

 and night except in wet weather. If novices 

 paid more attention to this point, viz., full 

 exposure of the plants in autumn, and, in 

 the case of old plants, throughout the 

 summer, in order to ripen the growth pro- 

 perly, flowering would be more satisfactory 



than it often is. Water must be given as 

 needed, but as winter approaches, and from 

 then until growth starts in spring, very little 

 watering is advised. Especially is this so 

 when the plants are wintered in cold frames 

 as they safely may be. If they are placed 

 in a greenhouse let it be 

 a cool one, and do not 

 stand them under stages 

 where the roots will be 

 kept continually moist 

 from drip. 



In spring the plants 

 can be started early by 

 being placed in heat or 

 they may be left until 

 the season awakens them 

 naturally. If they are 

 to be grown on without 

 delay to form big plants 

 cut back the stem of each 

 to two good buds ; for 

 the production of one 

 large bloom on each plant 

 do not prune, but allow 

 them to start growing 

 naturally, and then feed 

 regularly with liquid 

 manure. Large growers 

 often propagate plants 

 annually solely for pro- 

 ducing one good bloom 

 the following spring, after 

 which they are not re- 

 quired. This method will 

 scarcely appeal to the 

 amateur, however, so that 

 when the flowers fade 

 each plant should be cut 

 back to encourage the 

 growth of side shoots. 

 Growth is needed as 

 sturdy as possible, there- 

 fore cool greenhouse 

 treatment, with full exposure to the light, 

 is advisable. Plants are often kept in 

 5-inch pots altogether with good results, 

 but a good deal of feeding is then 

 necessary, and if they can be given a 

 move into the 7-inch size in early summer 

 so much the better. Treat as advised above 

 for young plants until spring. When starting 

 them the second year it is unnecessary to do 



heads of bloom. 



