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THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



this attention. Directly the young shoots are seen, turn all the large plants out of 

 their pots, reduce the old balls of soil freely, shorten the roots somewhat and return 

 to the same size, or slightly larger pots than they were in previously. Any in com- 

 paratively small pots may he returned to sizes that will only just hold the roots 

 comfortably, shifting into the larger pots when they are growing strongly. The 

 soil employed may be the same as recommended for one-year-old plants, potting some- 

 what firmly. Subsequent treatment is also much the same. Top the young shoots till 

 the plants are well and evenly furnished with growths and remove early flowers after 

 topping has ceased, till near the period the plants are wanted at their best. Fuchsias 

 grown in a sheltered sunny position are more floriferous than those kept constantly 

 under glass, but the flowers are smaller and the colours less clear ; for this reason it is 

 advisable to place them in a span-roofed greenhouse or other light structure for about 

 three weeks or a month prior to the date the specimens are shown for prizes. Young 

 plants produce the finest branches of flowers, but those pyramids shown so well in the 

 "West of England, notably at Bath and Trowbridge, and which are frequently 9 feet and 

 upwards in height, are not grown in a single season. The best course to pursue, there- 

 fore, is to be constantly raising young plants to take the place of the larger specimens 

 when these are worn out. 



Insect Pests. 



Eed spider, green fly, and thrips, are all troublesome at times, more especially in 

 the case of plants grown under glass. The first and last-named pests, if allowed to 

 get the upper hand, quickly spoil the plants by causing an early loss of leaves. 

 A free use of the syringe and the maintenance of a moist atmosphere are the 

 best preventives of red spider, shading lightly during the hottest part of the 

 day also acting beneficially. Tobacco smoke is the old remedy for green fly and 

 thrips, but if applied too strong, is apt to injure the leaves. Nicotine vapour does 

 not have this effect, and is recommended as a substitute for fumigating. Any plants 

 that have been flowered early and are stunted in growth, or have lost most of their 

 leaves owing to insect attacks, may be freely pruned and treated as newly started 

 old plants. This should lead to their flowering freely in the autumn. 



Varieties. — A reference to the various trade catalogues will disclose the fact that 

 new varieties are added to the lists in large numbers every season, and a selection made 

 in 1897 would not long be up to date. For ordinary purposes a florist's selection 



