104 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
to this department of gardening. In procuring young plants select 
those that are dwarf and bushy and in vigorous health, carefully 
avoiding pot-bound straggling examples ; for when in perfect health 
and under good management some attention is required to produce 
dwarf compact specimens, and there is little chance of beginners 
effecting this unless they secure proper plants to commence with. 
In order to obtain the greatest possible amount of growth the 
first season, the plants should be in hand, ready to be placed in a 
growing temperature early in March ; but if obtained in the present 
season, with good management, they will make great progress before 
autumn. There is, however, no time to be lost by those who may 
purpose to make a commencement this season. On receiving young 
plants from the nursery the first thing to be done is to examine the 
drainage, etc., and if this is defective clear away the sodden soil, 
injuring the roots as little as possible, and repot in the same sized 
pots after securing perfect drainage ; but iu case the roots are found 
to be abundant and active, shift into a pot a size larger. As to 
situation and temperature, a position close to the glass, where the 
plants will receive all the light possible, is essential to the produc- 
tion of short-jointed wood during the spring months ; this should 
be secured with a moist temperature ranging from 45° to 50°, 
allowing it to rise 10° or 15° by day with air. A gentle 
sprinkling overhead on the mornings and afternoons of bright 
days will be beneficial ; water must, however, be cautiously 
supplied at the root, and with a moist atmosphere, but little will 
be needed until the plants start into free growth. It will be 
necessary to tie out or peg down the main shoots, and if the plants 
are leggy they should be cut back sufficiently to overcome this 
defect ; but where necessary this should be done, and the plants 
allowed to start into growth before shifting, for there is considerable 
risk in cutting back fresh potted plants which are at all delicate ; 
when they are in vigorous growth they will require to have their 
shoots frequently stopped ; and this should be done in a regular 
manner, allowing the plants to make considerable progress, and the 
bases of the young shoots to become tolerably ripe, when every 
branch may be regularly pinched or cut back, and this may be 
followed up till about the middle of July. When the weather 
becomes mild, the plants had better be removed to a cold frame or 
pit, taking care that they do not sustain any check by the change. 
Here less attention will serve to properly care for them than if they 
were retained in a lofty house containing a miscellaneous collection 
of plants. Air should be admitted pretty freely, except during the 
prevalence of drying winds, when the lights should be raised on 
the sheltered side and the temperature kept down by throwing a 
slight screen over the glass ; indeed, this will be beneficial for a few 
hours in the middle of the day, provided it is used only on bright 
days, not kept on too long, and discontinued early in autumn ; but 
beginners are very apt to shade too much. 
If all goes on well, a second shift will be necessary, probably in 
June, and vigorous specimens may be afforded a rather liberal shift 
at this season, observing to give it when they are in active growth, 
