The Foecixg of Hybrids, 147 



" Early hybrids are apt to be short stemmed, so as soon 

 as you are satisfied the buds are set, give a little higher 

 temperature, about sixty-five at night, which will have 

 a tendency to lengthen out the stem and not injure the 

 flowers, if you gradually reduce the temperature some 

 tim*! before the buds show color. The flowers should 

 open in a night temperature of from fifty to fifty-five; 

 lower than that they do not develop freely. 



" Never let the beds get dry after the plants are well 

 covered with foliage, as a bed of healthy hybrids carries 

 a great quantity of large leaves that quickly suffer if the 

 soil become at all dry. Occasionally I find it neces- 

 sary to use manvire water after the buds are set, but 

 only when the plants are not of the right color, or the 

 top dressing appears dried, which will happen if too old 

 when applied. 



"After the flowers have been cut from an early house, 

 the plants can be removed and the room occupied with 

 those grown in boxes for the purpose, or they can be 

 dried off" for about three weeks, the blind wood removed 

 and started up as before. By this plan you will obtain 

 about half a crop of flowers for Easter, or early spring, 

 when they are still in demand. 



" The treatment of later houses will be the same, ex- 

 cept the planting need not be done as early, and the 

 drying will not be so tedious, the cool nights helping to 

 check the growth. When starting a house in midwin- 

 ter, use a little more heat and a little less water. 



