ON FORCING. 



937 



varying in colour from the purest white to deep crimson, so 

 that any particular taste as to colour or as to double or single 

 flowers may be gratified. If a few plants are introduced into the 

 forcing-house from early in November onwards at intervals of 

 ten days or so, and due attention is paid to watering, insect pests, 

 &:c., every flower-truss will open out freely and impart a beautiful 

 effect during the dullest months of the year. The varieties are so 

 numerous that it is best to refer the reader to the catalogues 

 of nurserymen making plants for forcing a speciality. If the seed- 

 pods are all carefully removed immediately after the flowers are 

 past, and the plants are kept in a growing temperature, little or 

 no exhaustion takes place, and they may be forced annually for 

 many years. The Ghent and pontica types of Azaleas are also of 

 immense value for forcing, giving a mass of orange-coloured 

 flowers w^ith a minimum of trouble : and as these plants are 

 purchased at a moderate cost, even the amateur may find them 

 within his means. Following Azaleas, we have the showy 

 Rhododendrons ; in fact, the latter are now included by botanists 

 with Azaleas, some going so far as to state that the name of one 

 applies to the other ; but, be that as it may, many of the 

 Rhododendrons force well, and provide gorgeous plants for rooms 

 or conservatories. The large trusses of blossoms continue fresh 

 in a cut state for a long time in warm rooms in vases of water. 

 Some of the scented forms, like R. Edgivorthii, emit a very 

 pleasing odour, and if treated as advised for Azaleas will force 

 freely every year. 



Lilacs are admirable plants for forcing. Strong plants grown in 

 the nursery (from which they can be lifted and potted, or if large 

 plants, with big balls of roots, put in tubs) may be forced in the 

 dark, and the flowers of pink varieties will thus be white. But 

 in forcing Lilacs, either in the dark or in a proper forcing- 

 house, it is best to remove all the buds on the previous year's 

 growth except the one at the point ; this often means all the 

 difference between success and failure, as the side buds seem to 

 draw on the strength of the terminal bud, and to prevent it 

 from developing a good truss of flower. After forcing gradually 

 harden off the plants, and put out in the nursery again in good 

 soil ; in a couple of years the plants will be ready to force 

 again. If no nursery is available, plants may be purchased 

 annually at a small cost, and having served their purpose may 

 be thrown away or planted out permanently in the shrubberies. 



All the Deutzias are first-rate plants for forcing, and, like the 

 Lilacs, may easily be had in blossom at Christmas by putting 

 healthy, vigorous plants in strong heat about the middle of 

 November. After flowering most of the old wood should be 

 cut away, and every encouragement given to the plants to make 

 new growth. When this is completed for the season, they can be 

 gradually hardened, placed outside, and forced again the following 



