264 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



The old plants in 5-, 6-, and 8-m. pots were never disturbed 

 during the Winter months, but kept in a rather cool house. By the 

 first part of May, however, every plant of over 5-in. stock was taken 

 out of the pots, divided into pieces and put in 2- and 3-in. pots, and 

 these were plunged up to the rims in a hotbed with a high enough 

 frame so the tips of the leaves wouldn't touch the glass. The glass 

 was shaded to prevent sunburn, and very little air was given. The 

 plants were watered but Uttle, but were sprayed with warm water 

 three times and more each day. In about eight weeks, whQe there 

 wasn't any apparent increase in the number of leaves per plant, the 

 pots were full of heavy white roots and the rhizomes began to form 

 eyes. The plants then received a shift into 4s and the pots were 

 again plunged up to the rims in a fresh hotbed. By September 

 the last shift was given into 5s and another hotbed, after which 

 the plants were kept in a close atmosphere. By the end of October, 

 when the stock was brought in, some plants would have up to fifteen 

 leaves, and others, of course, less; the plants in 4- and 5-in. pots in 

 May got to be 6- and some even 8-in. specimens under the same 

 treatment. You may think this altogether too much trouble, but 

 it is nevertheless one way to make Aspidistras grow into money. 

 You cannot do it by keeping them under a bench in a coldhouse. 



Fig. 96. — ^A Field of Asters. Well-built double flowers of large size and good 

 color borne on long stems are needed if Asters are to prove valuable property for 



the florist 



