508 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



or stakes. The term must not be confounded with horizontal as applied 

 to trees, Pears, chiefly, in exactly the same way on walls. Espalier 

 is used solely in relation to similar trees grown in the open ground 

 away from walls. This way of growing fruit trees, chiefly Apples and 

 Pears, is very old. Trees to make espaliers are trained to have one 

 central and erect stem. From this is made to break out branches on 

 either side at intervals of about 10 inches, these branches being trained 

 laterally or horizontally, the lowest being about 12 inches from the 

 ground. As they grow they are either tied to stakes driven in at 

 intervals, or to wires strained along the same way, one above the other, 

 from post to post. All espaliers are quite flat, and for that reason 

 occupy little space, except lengthwise. The branches may be trained 

 to a great length, and if properly pruned become very fruitful. 



Feeding. The word feed has just the same application in reference 

 to plant life as to animal life, but the food is absorbed in a different 

 way. Plants do not masticate. They have no mouths or stomachs 

 through which food is converted into blood. Nature does the prepara- 

 tion in the soil, when food, or, as commonly called, manure, is applied. 

 This food, if ever so solid or dry, is dissolved in the soil, and converted 

 into liquid form, and in this condition it is absorbed or taken up by the 

 minute root hairs which coat small roots. Plant food must chiefly 

 consist of three elements phosphate, potash, and nitrogen. These 

 things are found in various proportions in manures, and plants absorb 

 those most needed by them, whilst water such as rains provide,or added 

 to the soil artificially, assisted by the bacteria in the soil, converts 

 solids into liquids; the most available manure or plant food is that 

 given in the form of liquid manure. 



Florists' Flowers. That florists are essentially growers and lovers 

 of flowers goes without saying, and equally is it true that in a certain 

 sense all who grow flowers are florists. But the above term is used in 

 relation to a small section of flowers, which certain gardeners, called in 

 earlier years " florists," have in the past specially cherished and im- 

 proved with a view specially to the complete development of certain 

 points as exhibition flowers. Flowers for exhibition Auriculas, Poly- 

 anthuses, Tulips, Roses, Carnations, Pinks, Dahlias, Asters, and many 

 other things have been so developed. Florists have laid down from 

 time to time rules as to points which particular flowers should possess, 

 and it has been the aim of raisers to develop these points to their 

 utmost limit. To myriads a flower is a flower only, but to the florists 

 it is a thing more or less perfect, and the true florist aims at per- 

 fection. 



Flower Truss and Cluster. Flowers are presented in many 

 forms. Some are singly on stems, some in trusses, some in spikes, some 

 in racemes, and some in clusters. The " truss " is found in Pelar- 

 goniums, Verbenas, Phloxes, Plumbagos, and many other plants. It is 

 produced by a neat cluster of pips or individual flowers forming a 

 roundish clump, and all, whilst having small stems attaching to the base 

 of the truss, are finally borne on a single stem. A truss should be of 



