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THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



sweet-scented blossoms ; the Lilacs, of which there are several kinds, all invaluable for this 

 purpose, the best for small plants being the Persian, and the pure white Marie Legray ; Spiraea 

 confusa and S. Thunbergi, both with white Hawthorn-like blossoms ; Forsythia suspensa 

 and F. viridissima, whose golden flowers are borne in great profusion. 



The Guelder Rose or Snowball Tree is very striking, and much the same may be said of 

 Magnolia Lennei ; Cytisus Andreanus, a Broom whose golden blossoms have large blotches of 

 velvety crimson, is not often seen, but conforms readily to this treatment, and the Hydrangeas 

 must also be included. The most generally grown for this purpose is H. paniculata grandiflora, 

 whose large, massive, cream-coloured heads of blossom are much admired. This is seldom met 

 with in flower before April, the first batch being taken indoors about the middle of March. In 

 the case of plants intended 

 Inr forcing, they should, when 

 lifted for potting, not be pruned 

 in any way, unless to remove 

 ;m unsightly branch, as the 

 flower buds are all formed, and 

 consequently pruning would 

 in all probability remove some 

 of them. To this advice 

 there is one exception, viz., 

 the Hydrangea just mentioned, 

 which should be cut back to a 

 good stout bud, otherwise it 

 will run up tall and weak. As 

 the foregoing remarks show, 

 forced plants add greatly to 

 the attractions of the plant- 

 house in the early months of 

 the year when the garden 

 outside is desolate. It must 

 not be forgotten that forcing 

 does not consist merely in 

 driving plants into bloom by 

 strong heat, as many things 

 with gentle warmth may be 

 made to yield their blossoms, 

 which are stronger in colour 

 when not subjected to a high 

 temperature. Pleasant is it 

 to enter a greenhouse or 

 conservatory early in the 



year, when, may be, the earth is wreathe din snow, and to smell the sweet fragrance of Daffodil, 

 Choisya, Staphylea, and other things forced into bloom, whilst the Lilac always appeals strongly 

 to those who love flowers. In every warm house a few bushes of Lilac should be hastened 

 into bloom, and made to give freely of those graceful clusters that fill the outside garden with 

 perfume when the apple is tinted with pink and rose. Forcing is not difficult, and it repays one 

 tenfold by the quantity of flowers produced, which to many are more precious early in the year 

 than at any other season. There is nothing difficult in the process, and an old bush of Lilac or 

 Azalea, properly prepared for the purpose, will be regarded as a safe mine of flower wealth 

 when everyone seeks blossom to remind them of the spring to come. In small greenhouses, 

 heated with a boiler or lamp even, a few bulbs may be hurried into flower. 



DO UBLE-I' LOWERED CHERRY. 



