CULTURE FOR EXHIBITION 9 



growth of the plant. This is best attained by using 

 fibrous loam, mixing leaf soil therewith in the pro- 

 portion of about one part to three of loam. A little 

 wood ashes may be advantageously added, also sand 

 if the loam is of a heavy, adhesive character, but stim- 

 ulating manures must be avoided, for the plant is yet 

 but an infant, incapable of assimilating rich food; 

 and its presence in the soil at this stage of growth 

 would retard progress. Growth cannot be forced in 

 this early stage and any attempt to do so will result 

 in disaster. 



After potting, the plants may remain in the 

 greenhouse for a week or two until nicely established, 

 meanwhile discretion in regard to watering must be 

 exercised. For a few days a light spraying overhead 

 may be all that is needed till the new roots commence 

 to run .freely in the soil, after which water will be 

 required freely. As soon as possible, when conditions 

 of weather permit, the plants should be taken out of 

 the greenhouses and placed in cold frames. This may 

 seem a small matter, entailing labor out of all pro- 

 portion to apparent benefits, but the cold frame treat- 

 ment induces a short-jointed, sturdy growth, vigor 

 and hardiness of constitution not attainable in the 

 greenhouse, especially if artificial heat is used. Should 

 frost occur at night it is an easy matter to protect 

 the tender plants by covering the frames with mats. 



When they are first placed in the frames care 

 must be exercised in giving air, but after a week or 

 ten days air may be applied freely when the temper- 

 ature is above forty degrees, and on warm, genial days 

 the sash may be drawn off entirely and the plants will 

 revel in the atmospheric conditions. When high drying 

 winds prevail, it is better not to thus expose the plants 

 or they will dry out too fast and need watering every 

 hour, but the sash may be tilted from the direction 



