MARKET PLANTS. — FUCHSIA S — -LILA C—~ OR CHIOS. 



34' 



Fuchsias. — Plants of the Mrs. Marshall type, or other varieties that form a good, 

 natural, branching leader, and flower abundantly, are grown for the markets in fairly 

 large numbers. Young shoots are either rooted in the autumn, and the plants kept 

 growing in gentle heat all through the winter for selling in April, or else the cuttings are 

 rooted in February, and the plants are ready about the time window-boxes are filled 

 with their summer occupants. They are flowered in 5-inch and G-inch pots, and sell at 

 6s. to 9s. per dozen. 



Lila.cs.- — In common with a variety of other deciduous and other shrubs for forcing, 

 Lilacs can be bought more cheaply than the florist with limited nursery room can grow them. 

 They are largely imported from France, and ought to be ordered early, well set with 

 flower buds. The popular forcing 

 lilac in England is known as Charles 

 X. This grown in the open gives 

 large panicles of lilac - coloured 

 flowers, but when forced in a shaded 

 position, the flowers are white and 

 the leaves a delicate green in colour. 

 The French much prefer the "Marly 

 Lilac," and the flowers are variously 

 tinted by gradations of light through 

 perforated mats used in shading. 

 They are also expert in producing 

 large elegant bunches with a few 

 spikes, by passing the stems through 

 mushroom - shaped pads of damp 

 straw, as shown in the outline sketch 

 (Fig. 194). Alba virginalis, white, also forces well. It does not pay to force any 

 varieties that are not white, or cannot be blanched to the requisite whiteness. Forcing 

 should be slow at first, the development of flowers and leaves taking place best in a 

 moist atmosphere and temperature of 50° to 55°, increasing to 60° and 65° after 

 growth has well commenced. The bushes are of no use for forcing two years in 

 succession, but should be planted out till they are again well set with flower buds. 



Orchids —These are grown extensively on the continent solely for meeting the demand 

 for cut blooms, and doubtless the industry, as carried out by those who make a speciality 



