ON GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 72 1 



ornamental, especially during the early spring, but many others 

 are also rather difficult to grow, and more especially to propagate, 

 requiring expert cultivation and special accommodation. This is 

 very marked in the case of Azaleas and Heaths. When such is 

 the case it is the best plan for the cultivator who has neither 

 the means nor the time to spend over them to purchase well- 

 established plants from people who make a speciality of their 

 cultivation, for although young plants are difficult to raise, an 

 established specimen may be grown successfully for many years 

 with proper care and attention. 



These shrubs are either deciduous or evergreen. The deciduous 

 kinds require to be pruned after the leaves have fallen in most 

 cases, and it is generally necessary to pinch and thin out the 

 young shoots whilst growing. The evergreen kinds require to be 

 pruned just after the flowering period. This usually consists 

 simply in shortening back long growths and thinning the weak 

 and very sappy wood ; careful note should be taken of this, for 

 weak shoots, if left, will not flower, but only hinder the develop- 

 ment of stronger growths, whilst coarse, sappy growths- will run 

 away, taking the nourishment from the rest of the plant. Only 

 firm and well-ripened shoots should be allowed to remain. 



All hard-wooded plants have distinct resting and growing 

 periods, during which they require either very little or an 

 abundant supply of water. It is through not paying enough 

 attention to these facts that many are ruined. With a . few 

 exceptions they must not be dried off: even when at rest, 

 although very little water is required, the soil should be kept 

 moist. 



When potting, the soil should be rammed firmly, leaving at 

 least half an inch for water on the top. Also give special 

 attention to drainage, for after a plant has reached the flowering 

 size it will not require shifting oftener than once a year, and 

 large specimens in pots or tubs are seldom shifted at all, but 

 have to be content with a top : dressing of. fresh soil. When 

 this is done it is necessary to remove as much of the surface- 

 soil as possible without injury to the roots, and excepting in 

 the case of those requiring peat, it is best to use richer soil 

 for this purpose than in the case of plants that are repotted. 

 After either repotting or top-dressing sprinkle the soil with clean 

 silver-sand, which will help to keep the surface clean. 



During the growing period a good syringing overhead on all 

 bright days is beneficial, and also helps to keep down insects. 

 In the case of evergreens, when the resting period occurs in 

 summer, this should also be done morning and evening. All 

 hard-wooded plants like plenty of ventilation, excepting in some 

 cases just at the time when fresh growth is being made. 



Many kinds that are difficult to root from cuttings may be' 

 successfully layered, and this should be done in small pots. 



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