DECORATIVE VARIETIES. 
31 
plants can be screened effectually from the full force of 
the south-westerly gales, it is better. Full advantage 
should be taken of a southern aspect, as in this position 
the good and ripening influence of the sun is undoubted, 
and without it the plants can never attain that splendid 
healthy character which all decorative plants should 
possess. If possible, stand them evenly in rows running 
north and south. 
Where more convenient a special part of the garden 
should be allocated to them, and rows some four to six 
feet apart should be mapped out. The rows should have 
two lengths of strong galvanised wire .securely strained 
to stout upright posts, the lower row of wire being some 
two and a-half feet from the ground, and the upper one 
about two feet above this. If more convenient, paths of 
the kitchen or flower garden may be used for the same 
purpose, but that no damage may happen to the plants 
it is important that only wide paths be utilised in this way. 
The plants should be stood some fifteen inches apart, 
taking the measurement between the pots ; this will give 
ample space for the growths to develop during the grow- 
ing season. On no account must the plants be crowded. 
It would be a fatal mistake for a grower to attempt to 
stand more plants in a given area in the hope that by so 
doing he would make a better display under glass subse- 
quently. Sun and air must play their important parts in 
good culture, and the latter must circulate freely between 
the plants. In this way, growth of a consolidated and 
satisfactory character will evolve, and from such, one may 
safely anticipate a successful issue. 
See that the pots are stood on boards, slates, tiles, 
sifted ashes, or coke-breeze. If the two latter substances 
can be made of sufficient depth to prevent the ingress of 
worms through the hole in the bottom of the pot, by all 
means use them in preference to any other material. The 
ashes or coke breeze al.so maintain a cool bottom, and 
this during the summer time, is much appreciated by the 
roots. 
