MANAGEMENT OF PLANTS IN FORCING. 
61 
tion of highly developed flowering plants at an unusually early period, and by the 
application of a considerable forcing process, ought to be regarded as the strongest 
proof of an accomplished plant-cultivator. 
Not, however, that we would by any means put it forth as a rule that 
successful forcing is the highest acquirement a cultivator can possess, or is of such 
transcendant importance that it should engross the chief part of the culturist's 
attention. It might perhaps be justly argued that the skill expended on bringing 
a plant to the greatest perfection at its natural period is the most worthily and 
suitably employed ; and that forcing is, properly, only a subordinate department 
of the art. And we are quite prepared to admit this to a large extent. But 
still, since the routine of forcing demands, in order to produce very favourable 
results, a consummate knowledge of the constitution, wants, habits, and aliments 
of plants, and since these have all to be ministered to in an artificial manner, or 
nearly so, we contend that a well-forced specimen which is brought into healthy 
growth, and made to flower in profusion long before it would do so spontaneously, 
is, if it be one of a collection equally beautiful, and not merely an isolated plant, 
the child of accident, the best possible demonstration of practical skill in culture. 
This being the case, were we to walk through the majority of places at the 
present time, and examine the forced plants yet in flower, and those which have 
ceased to bloom and been cast aside ; or were we to wait till another January and 
February and make a similar survey, we fear that, had a considerable number of 
gardeners no other claim to merit than what they derive from this source, or were 
their claims to be judged by the state of their forced plants, a very indifi'erent notion 
would be formed of their capabilities. In truth, we feel that while the general 
management of exotics has undergone, and is still receiving, the greatest improve- 
ments, such improvements have rarely been extended to forcing. 
To adduce a proof of this we may remark that the old practice of having just 
a few flowers to stud a collection of plants, while all the specimens are crowded 
together, and are not individually fit for examination, though it has been exploded 
with respect to general collections, and with reference to plants flowering at the 
proper time, is commonly continued with forced plants. They are not usually 
brought to sufficient perfection to be adapted for being looked at alone ; and hence, 
they have to be contemplated solely as part of a group. 
Now, there is nothing in the nature of the case to prevent forced plants being 
rendered fully as symmetrical and showy as those which are not carried out of 
their ordinary course. The same, or a little extra pains in their preparation, and 
during their progress, would certainly secure an equal amount of beauty to that 
which they commonly exhibit at the natural period. We intend, here, therefore, 
to go into the circumstances which seem to us to be of general occurrence, and 
which interfere with the attainment of that degree of perfection to which they may 
readily be raised. It must be clearly stated, however, that we refer altogether or 
principally to early forcing. 
