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THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



growths daily. Thus treated, long, strong shoots, in sufficient number to thinly 

 cover a medium- sized balloon-shaped trellis, should result. Eest and treat as before 

 during the winter. If they are to flower the following summer, only very lightly top 

 the long growths, removing the unripe portions, but if larger specimens, such as are 

 seen at the leading exhibitions, are desired, then the growths should be pruned severely 

 again with a view to doubling their number and having them extra strong. Start all 

 the pruned plants in gentle heat, and treat them at the roots as previously advised ; 

 partially reducing the old ball of soil and roots every spring renders it possible to 

 flower large plants in much the same sized pots for many years in succession. The long, 

 fully ripened growths may be retained permanently. Every strong or moderately strong 

 branchlet from these will flower profusely, and if these are shortened to near where 

 they started when pruned, in the spring, other strong flowering growths will result. 

 Eaise the plants well up to the light in a warm greenhouse, and do not train too tightly, 

 especially when the branchlets are young. When the soil is well occupied with 

 roots, abundance of water and weak liquid manure must be applied ; but at the same 

 time it should be remembered that either insufficient water, or an excess of liquid 

 manure, is liable to cause a serious loss of leaves and thus disfigure the plant for the 

 rest of the season. 



Bougainvillcas give the least trouble, and are remarkably effective when established 

 in warm conservatory or greenhouse borders. Planted in ordinary stoves they are 

 disposed to grow too luxuriantly, and the colour of the bracts is not so good as when the 

 plants are grown in an intermediate temperature. The site for them should be well 

 drained, and the compost no richer than that recommended for pot culture. It is only by 

 planting B. spectabilis in conservatory borders that it can be had at its best, but 

 B. glabra and its varieties are more to be depended upon. The growths may be 

 gradually extended from pillars or walls to the roofs of houses, and the ends of warm 

 greenhouses can be beautifully draped with festoons of glowing sprays. The strong 

 growths formed during the summer will ripen more thoroughly if the plants are kept 

 somewhat dry at the roots, as they ought to be, during the winter, and should only 

 have the soft ends removed at the February pruning. Once a trellis of any kind is 

 thinly covered with strong growths it will only be necessary to keep them properly 

 fastened, and to spur back all lateral growths much as grape vines are treated, with this 

 material difference, that B. spectabilis must not be pruned till after it has flowered 

 in the spring, while B. glabra and varieties should be severely pruned in February, 



