176 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ing is one that is often done in a slip- shod way — I allude to the 

 system of staking and supporting the plants and flowers. Some- 

 times large white deal sticks are used, or heavy painted ones, tied 

 close up to the base of the flowers. Such stiff and clumsy supports 

 are most objectionable, and oft-times the sticks show more pro- 

 minently than the flowers. The best for the purpose are small 

 hazel shoots commonly called chisel rods ; failing these, the 

 shoots of the brown willow that are used for basket-making are 

 the best for the dwarfest plants ; these run different sizes, and it 

 is best to select a stick of about the substance of the shoot to be 

 supported, using one stick to each shoot, and framing the plant into 

 shape whilst proceeding, i.e. if the plant has three shoots I should 

 triangle them, if four I should place them in a square or diamond 

 shape, making the shortest side the front of the plant. And it 

 is very important, whether the plant be standing out of doors or 

 under glass, to always keep the shortest side of the plant facing 

 the light, so that the foliage should grow and keep that way, making 

 a face to the plant ; this is especially important for the dwarfest 

 of the plants, that would be required for the front row or facing 

 to the group. 



After the plants are housed and the blooms begin to show 

 colour, it is necessary then to give support to the flowers. I 

 use galvanised wire supports to each of the blooms. By that 

 time the plant will have made its full growth, and the wire- 

 support can be fixed into position, i.e., the stick shortened back 

 to below the foliage and the wire tied firmly to it. I adopted 

 wire on account of its neatness and pliability, for sometimes 

 a bloom is stubborn and will turn the reverse way ; the wire 

 then can be bent to face the flower in any position. Nos. 14, 

 15, and 16 gauges are the proper sizes necessary ; No. 14, being 

 the stoutest, would be required for the heaviest blooms, and 

 No. 16 for the smallest. They are twisted with a hook or a 

 circle at the top. The crutch should be pressed up underneath 

 the flower-head, and tied firmly close up to the top, and in about 

 two or three other places. The circle should be used for the 

 largest flowers, and the hook for the smallest ; they give a great 

 support to the flowers in travelling to the place of exhibition, 

 and for grouping generally add a light and natural freedom to 

 the plant, in contrast to the stiff and heavy stakes tied close up 

 to the flower. 



