148 



THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



to become blossom buds, which would not otherwise 

 have been so. These blossom buds of course come 

 into operation the succeeding year, while in the mean 

 time the ring has grown up, and the circulation of the 

 sap goes on in its usual way. If it does not grow up, 

 but continues open from having been made too wide, or 

 from other causes, the plant will become weaker and 

 weaker every year, and in a few years die. This 

 stimulus, therefore, though useful with over-luxuriant 

 plants_, requires to be used with caution. 



Ringing after a plant is in blossom having the 

 same tendency to stop up, and throw back into the 

 stem and branches that part of the concocted sap or 

 blood intended for the root, will aid in causing the 

 blossoms to set, and in maturing the seed and en- 

 larging the fruit of fruit-trees produced the same year. 



That part of a plant which has most tendency to 

 increase its magnitude, or to produce blossoms, is the 

 least suitable for being taken off to be used as cut- 

 tings or grafts. Thus the top shoots of heaths, and 

 the tops of the vigorous shoots or suckers of roses, 

 and of oranges, camellias, and all plants struck by 

 cuttings, will not strike so readily as the less vigorous 

 horizontal side-shoots, and especially such as are near 

 the ground. 



Although planting, transplanting, grafting, and 

 other important operations of culture are performed 

 with most ease, expedition, and certainty of success, 

 at particular seasons, yet there is scarcely any season 

 in which they may not be performed, if extraordinary 



