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THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



crowns. It is possible to prepare good clumps for forcing in private gardens, but 

 owing to the injury often sustained by the young growths on plants in the open, the 

 attempt is not often made. Imported clumps are cheap and rarely fail to afford a pro- 

 fusion of strong plume-like spikes, together with abundance of good foliage. The old 

 S. japonica is, to a certain extent, being superseded by other species and varieties. The 

 compact form, S. j. compacta multiflora, has delicate foliage, and for this reason has not 

 become so popular as first anticipated. S. astilboides does not force quite so readily as 

 the dwarfer form, S. a. floribunda (Fig. 137), the best of all for flowering in February, but 

 both are strong and particularly well adapted for conservatory decoration. S. palmata, 

 a tall-growing species, with crimson feathery flowers, can also be gently forced success- 

 fully, and its colour is appreciated. 



Spiraea clumps may be divided, if plants are required to flower in small pots. Some 

 of the smaller portions may go into 5-inch pots, the bulk into 6-inch, and any extra large 

 clumps into 7-inch pots. A little good fine soil should be packed firmly round them, 

 this serving to prevent the water from escaping too readily, and is something for the 

 roots to feed on. The first for flowering may be placed in a temperature of 60 : to Go° 

 in December, and would start quicker if given a bottom heat of 75°, introducing more 

 every three weeks or so. A covering of moss or leaf soil should be placed on the 

 crowns, and the soil in the pots be kept uniformly moist. When growing strongly, 

 abundance of water and liquid manure ought to be applied to the roots, two applications 

 in a day often being required in bright, warm weather. Allow sufficient room for the 

 foliage to develop and for a fair amount of light to reach the plants. They must have 

 copious supplies of water while in flower, or they will not long remain ornamental. 



Dielytra.. — D. spcctabilis (Fig. 138) has long been a favourite plant for conservatory 

 decoration, but it should not be forced either very early or rapidly, as this causes the 

 flower stems, to be weakly and the flowers flimsy and poor. Strong clumps can either 

 be prepared in the reserve garden or imported, and these should be placed in pots just 

 large enough to hold them, with good soil pressed firmly. February is a good month 

 to start them in gentle heat. Support the stems with neat stakes, and, when growing 

 strongly, supply abundance of water. 



Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum). — This old-fashioned herbaceous plant is an excellent 

 companion for dielytra, and well w r orthy of cultivation under glass. P. inultiflorum is 

 the best for forcing, the stronger-growing P. macrojmyllum also finding favour, while 

 the neat-growing P. verticillatum should not be overlooked. Either pot good home- 



