MARKET PL A NTS.—SOLANUM—SPIRJEA S. 



335 



stocky, and place singly into 21-inch pots, growing in gentle heat. Unless sufficiently 

 bushy, top closely a second time, and before the plants become root-bound shift them into 

 5-inch pots, using a rich, loamy compost. Shallow pits or frames are good positions for 

 them up to June, when they may be plunged in ashes, in a sunny place in the open 

 air. They must be well looked after, a serious check of any kind resulting in the loss of 

 much of the foliage. Afford water as needed, alternating with liquid manure, and give 

 the pots a twist round occasionally to prevent the roots spreading into the ashes or soil 

 below. The plants flower and set fruit thickly under this treatment, ripening com- 

 mencing when they are housed late in September. A cool house is best for solanums, 

 taking particular care not to let 

 them get dry at the roots when 

 they are first moved from the 

 open. If the fruit is late in 

 colouring, gentle heat will soon 

 bring about the desired change. 

 Planting out % solanums answers 

 well as far as free growth and 

 fruiting arc concerned, but they 

 cannot bo placed in sufficiently 

 small pots in the autumn with- 

 out crippling them. 



SPIRAEAS. 

 Spiroca japonica is exten- 

 sively forced in this country, 

 and as it retains its popularity among buyers forcing is fairly remunerative. The com- 

 pact form finds few admirers, largely owing to the fact of the foliage not keeping fresh 

 and green. S. astilboidcs and the dwarfer form, 8. a. floribunda, arc fast becoming as 

 popular as S. japonica. They can be had in flower more quickly, the type (S. astilboides) 

 being .the earliest by about a fortnight. Both forms grow stronger and produce larger 

 leaves and better spikes of flowers than S. japonica, but they are usually fewer in num- 

 ber. Good spiraeas in pots occasionally sell in the early spring months, fetching from 

 Gs. to 8s. per dozen, while the spikes of bloom realise from 5s. to 9s. per dozen bunches 

 of twelve sprays, according to their condition and the time of year. See also page 229. 



Fig. 192. Solantjm capsicasteum. (Market plant.) 



