POTTING AND FORCING. 105 



harden, and then taken to the green-house or vinery. A 

 moderate heat should then be given it, with plenty of 

 light and air to prevent its 'being drawn. The flower- 

 buds should be plucked off as soon as they aj^pear, and no 

 bloom should be allowed. It will thus make fine growths, 

 and can be plunged in the open ground as soon as danger 

 of frost has passed in the spring. Here it can remain 

 during the summ.er, to ripen its wood, and will require no 

 care except a little watering in dry weather, and an occa- 

 sional taking up and examination, that the roots may not 

 push through the hole of the pot, and become fixed in the 

 ground, in which case the plants would make too strong 

 a growth, and suffer on being removed from the new- 

 made root. In October it can be placed in a pot one size 

 larger, pruned by thinning out all the weak branches, and 

 shortening the strong ones down to two eyes. It should 

 then go through the same process as before, carefully 

 picking off all the flower-buds, promoting its growth 

 until completed, when let it be put in a cold frame until 

 all danger of frost is over, and then plunge it in the 

 ground to ripen its wood. As its vegetation was started 

 a month earlier the last year, it can now be taken up in 

 September, repotted and pruned as before, and then taken 

 into the green-house. The temperature should then be 

 gradually raised to about 55° until the plant has commenced 

 growing, and then gradually increased to 65° or 70°, giv- 

 ing as much air as can be obtained without lowering the 

 temperature. 



All useless shoots should be kept down, and all the 

 flower-buds taken off that threaten to be abortive. In 

 fumigating for the green-fly, care should be taken not to 

 do it too strongly, but repeated and gentle doses at night 

 are better. We have known many fine plants ruined by 

 fumigation in the hands of an inexperienced person. A 

 good bloom can be obtained the second year by this mode ; 

 but if the amateur has the patience to w^ait until a third, 

 5* 



