HINTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF A FEW ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 07 
How far it may be useful to turn young plants into the flower-beds in 
summer, appears to be questionable. We have never yet seen specimens bloom 
till they had acquired considerable size. But even though they do not flower, 
they may be planted in the same bed with free-flowering plants that are deficient 
in foliage ; and if kept low, they will form an excellent verdant covering. The 
great space which large plants require during winter, is a matter of some moment 
in most collections, and must prevent such from being extensively used for the 
parterre. There can be no doubt, however, that the large plants which have 
adorned the greenhouse during the previous summer and winter may be planted 
out with advantage, and their place replenished with younger specimens. Three 
or four of these large plants may be made to extend over a moderately capacious 
bed, by carefully bending down and fastening the shoots to the ground with hooked 
pegs — a plan which is of farther benefit in conferring a more dwarf appearance, 
and promoting the development of side growth ; and the same method, though in 
a more limited extent, is useful with plants intended to remain in pots. When an 
inclination is manifested to run up with only one or two stems, instead of applying 
the usual corrective of pruning, it is preferable to divert the current of sap into the 
side buds, by bending the shoots downwards ; and any degree of bushiness that 
may be thought desirable is easily obtained, by resorting to this expedient from 
time to time as the plant proceeds in growth. The utility of the practice is 
exhibited in an earlier bloom than would have been produced, had each bud been 
shortened every time an increase of shoots became necessary to maintain the 
symmetry of the bush ; and the flexures thus formed in the branches will always 
be sufficiently obscured by the quantity of foliage. 
Being of a succulent nature (though capable of enduring a great degree of 
humidity at the roots), much water is not essential to it, and only tends to retard 
the disclosure of bloom ; and as the unrestricted extension of roots, when trans- 
planted into the borders, has a similar tendency, the selection of a shallow soil in a 
dry and well-drained situation is a highly politic measure ; and if "possible, it 
should be a place well favoured with sunshine. 
We have yet another feature to point to, and that is, the facility which attends 
its management as a window plant for the cottager. In this respect it is almost 
unrivalled ; for, with a trifling amount of care, it will retain the beautiful green 
of its leaves, even in the smoky atmosphere of the metropolis. In such a station 
it is imperative to supply water to the roots during winter with a very niggardly 
hand, and to check as much as possible the propensity which the plant usually 
displays to elongate its branches ; and the sponge must also be frequently employed 
to keep the leaves clear of dust and dirt. 
A remarkable fact in connection with vegetable colours, and one which the 
culturist may apply to a practical advantage, is that displayed by several green- 
house plants— and which we have especially observed in some of those with flowers 
varying from an orange-red to scarlet—of acquiring a deeper and more brilliant 
