348 THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



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root or much harm will result. Pinch out the points of the young shoots as these 

 become long enough, but ceasing before the end of the month (June). 



Training has now to commence if the specimens are to assume a globular form. 

 In this case two light stakes should be passed across each other over the centre of 

 the pots, and long enough to support a moderately strong wire hoop about 3 feet in 

 diameter. From this hoop lighter wires can be passed and attached to a stake standing 

 18 inches (3 feet if pyramids are desired) out of the centre of the pot. Over this 

 trellis lightly and thinly distribute the shoots, and top them the last time about the third 

 week in June. The final training should be done before housing the plants, or in Sep- 

 tember, taking good care to have the points of the shoots evenly distributed. On no 

 account defer the final tying down till within a month or less of the date of the show , 

 as in this case neither the blooms nor the foliage have time to right themselves properly. 

 Each bloom should be supported with light green stakes, and the "painfully neat" 

 appearance sometimes complained of in trained plants, will be obviated by raising 

 the blooms from 6 to 12 inches above the trellis. Only one bloom should be grown 

 on each shoot, any more being prevented by disbudding. 



A light airy structure where the plants can have ample room, is needed to flower 

 them in. Any too forward may be retarded in comparatively low temperatures, and 

 gentle heat can be safely applied to those varieties that require advancing. 



Trained specimens are also, as before indicated, formed out of " cut-backs." These 

 are plants which have produced show blooms the season previously. They are cut 

 down to within G inches of the soil, and those that push forth strong, fiowerless 

 growths from the stems are the best for the purpose. Before they are far advanced 

 in growth, turn the plants out of their pots, reduce the old balls of soil and roots con- 

 siderably, and repot into the 6-inch size. Grow them in a cool greenhouse or pit, top 

 the shoots, shift into larger pots (the 12 -inch size is not too large) and train much as 

 advised in the case of those plants raised from cuttings. 



Trained standards are not so often seen as of old, but prizes are still offered for 

 them at some of the leading shows. They may either be formed out of early rooted 

 young plants, or from cut-backs. If the start is made with the former, do not top them 

 till they are 2 feet to 30 inches high — according to the height the standards are to be 

 grown. Eemove any side shoots that form, so as to have a clear stem, but treat the 

 head in the matter of topping and training similarly to the dwarf trained plants, support- 

 ing the wire hoop with three long stakes. Potting and other details are the same 



