OCIOBKK 30, 1S89.] 



Garden and Forest. 



523 



Plants for Forcing. 



UNDER tliis heading it is not intended to present a cata- 

 logue of plants suitable for forcing for winter tiovvers, 

 but rather to call attention to a few well known species as a 

 reminder of the preparatory work, necessary at this season, to 

 get the stock in proper condition for future operations. 



The forcing of various plants for winter bloom has been 

 much practiced in the past few years, not only among com- 

 mercial growers but also in private establishments, and, in 

 consetjuence, the demand for bulbs, hardy shrubs and other 

 plants for this purpose has largely increased, though it may 

 be said that among commercial growers, at least, the forcing 

 of bulbs seems to have been overdone, and the inevitable 

 reaction appears to be setting in. 



This, however, does not affect the utility and propriety of 

 forcing these plants for house decoration, for cut Howers, or 



common with all bulljoiis plants for winter use, it should 

 make the roots first, before the top begins to grow. Other- 

 wise the growth will be weak and the fiowers few. 



With the Lilies this root-growth may be secured by plac- 

 ing them out in a cold frame after potting, and plung- 

 ing the pots in coal-ashes, sand or soil, as may be most 

 convenient. They should be allowed to remain in this 

 condition until active root-growtli takes place (usually in three 

 or four weeks after potting). They may then be brought 

 into a temperature of fifty-five to sixty degrees, until the 

 flower-buds begin to form, when the temperature may be 

 increased from ten to fifteen degrees without injury to the 

 plants. In fact, I have known L. longiflorum flower very well 

 after it had been subjected to a much higher temperatiu-e 

 than this. 



In potting these Lilies any good loam may be used, with 

 the addition of some short, thoroughly rotted maniu-e, and if 





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Fig. 139.— Japanese Flowering Apple. — See page 520. 



to brighten up the conservatory during the dull days of 

 winter; and it is to this end that the following suggestions 

 and remarks are olTered. 



In a very prominent place among plants for this purpose 

 is found Liliuni longiflortiin, and also the so-called Bermuda 

 Lily, L. Harrisii, "the latter being best for early forcing, 

 though L. loiigiflortim will fully repay those patient enough 

 to wait until later in the season for its lovely blossoms, 

 as they have more substance, and, consequently, last 

 longer than those of L. Harrisii. The flowers of the lat- 

 ter, however, are larger and are produced in greater 

 profusion. 



If required for an early crop, say about the holidays, L. 

 Harrisii should be potted in August, so that it may become 

 M-ell rooted before it is brought into the hot-house, as, in 



the soil is very heavy, enough sand should be added to ren- 

 der the mixture open, the fact being kept in mind that 

 these plants prefer a tolerably rich comjjost. As the plants 

 should not be repotted after active growth has commenced, 

 they sliould be put in pots large enough to contain sufficient 

 nourishment to matiu'e the flowers, with a little assistance in 

 the form of liquid manure at intervals after the flower-buds 

 appear. 



For a fair sized bull.) of L. longiflorum (from six to eight 

 inches in circumference), a six-inch pot will be large enough, 

 but if the bulbs are larger it will be necessary to use eight- 

 inch pots for them, to prevent their becoming starved and 

 losing some of their lower leaves before the flowers are ready 

 to open. The drainage of the pots must be kept in good 

 order, for while enjoying an aliundance of water when 



