SPECIMEN PLANTS 73 



branch growth before that period is reached when 

 Nature's course can no longer be arrested, for the 

 shoots must then be permitted to grow on to the stage 

 of bud formation. 



Given the desire to grow them and the intention 

 to apply the best efforts toward the purpose in view, 

 there is no special difficulty to overcome, merely the 

 observance and proper performance of many small but 

 essential defeils, as here enumerated by one of the best 

 growers of these plants.* 



"The time to commence propagating for specimen 

 plants is the latter part of December or early in Jan- 

 uary, choosing for preference cuttings from stock plants 

 that have not been forced by heavy feeding the previous 

 year. When the cuttings have made roots about half 

 an inch in length, they should be potted into two-inch 

 pots, as. if left to make any growth in the propagating 

 bed, they become hardened and drawn and will never 

 make healthy specimens. From the time the cuttings 

 are rooted they should never be allowed to suffer for 

 want of water, air or space. The foundation of success 

 is laid upon a close attention to small details from 

 the start. 



"For the first potting use loam, with the addition 

 of some leaf mold and sufficient sand to make the com- 

 post open and porous. Place the plants as near the 

 glass as possible, in a cool house with a temperature of 

 about fifty-five degrees. When well rooted in these pots 

 they are shifted to larger ones as required, first into 

 four-inch, then into six-inch, and by the month of 

 May they should be large enough to require seven or 

 eight-inch pots. The condition called well-rooted may 

 be explained for the benefit of the amateur who might 

 err in leaving the plants too long in the small sized pots. 



*D. F. Boy of Maiden, Mass. 



