184 How TO Grow Cut Flowers. 



When flowers are grown for exhibition purposes, the 

 plants should be given more room, at least 10x12 inches. 



Some prefer planting 12 inches each way when grow- 

 ing for single blooms, the plants being rooted in April, 

 and pinched back twice, giving in this way three or four 

 individual flowers and stems to a plant. The same 

 objection is met in this method as when they are 

 grown for sprays, the crooked stem lessens their value. 



Exhibition flowers, or such as it is desired to keep a 

 week or more, should be cut just before they are fully 

 developed, placed in water immediately, and set on a 

 cool, light cellar bottom. Each morning the water 

 .■should be changed and the stems freshened by cutting 

 a thin slice from the ends. 



It does not properly come within the province of this 

 work, to treat of growing pot plants for exhibition pur- 

 poses, but it may not be amiss to speak of growing sin- 

 gle flowers in small pots, as some may desire to grow a 

 few in this way, who cannot devote a house to them. 



The cuttings should be made the last of June. Par- 

 ticular care should be taken to see that each pot has a 

 good sized hole for drainage. When they need a shift, 

 they should be changed from a two inch to a four inch 

 pot and matured in that size. As soon as they need it, 

 supply them with a neat stake of sufficient length to 

 confine the plant to as it grows. Great care must be 

 taken not to let them become dry in the least. On hot 

 or windy days, examine them every hour. Keep them 



