4 STOVE Fr,0\VERIXG PLANTS. 



save it from being rubbed and injured. When the plants have 

 reached the exhibition, they must be carefully unpacked, and 

 the shoots, leaves, and flowers all neatly arranged in as natural 

 and effective a manner as possible, taking care to leave nothing 

 untidy about them in the way of tying or packing material, 

 and all stakes and ties used in training should be kept well 

 oiTt of view. These remarks as to " packing " and " setting 

 up " of exhibition plants apply to all sections. The finest of 

 specimens are easily ruined by carelessness in packing or in 

 transit to the exhibition ; and a prize is often lost by good 

 specimens being set up in a careless, untidy, and tasteless 

 fashion. 



AMARYLLIS. 



This is a beautiful genus of bulbous plants, the varieties of 

 which have of late been greatly multiplied and improved. 

 There is quite a host of fine varieties in the trade, from 

 which the exhibitor can easily select the most suitable for 

 his purpose. 



The practice of some growers is to turn the bulbs out of 

 the pots after they are matured, and dry them off, while 

 others allow them to remain, and start them without re-potting. 

 As the strength of the future plant depends more upon the 

 perfect maturation of the bulb than on the subsequent treat- 

 ment, the result of the different methods may be imperceptible ; 

 but we prefer to allow the bulbs to rest in the pots till the 

 time for starting, when the old soil is shaken away, and three 

 well-ripened bulbs are placed in a 1 0-inch pot, using a compost 

 of rough fibrous loam, old hot-bed manure, and sand. They 

 should be started in a temperature of 55°, or a little higher, 

 according to the time they are wanted in flower. ' Little water 

 should be given until growth is proceeding. When the flower- 

 scapes appear, the plants should be taken to the greenhouse, 

 placed near the glass, and watered with weak liquid manure 

 to assist in the full development of the flowers. The flower- 

 stems should be securely staked, the flowers enveloped in 

 wadding, and the leaves carefully laid up against each other, 

 when removing the plants to the exhibition. 



