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THE PREPARATION OF THE POLTANTHUS FOB. EXHIBITION. 
mixed with, silver sand. If the plants are strong they may be shifted from a three to a six or 
eight inch pot at once, but if the shift is a large one, more caution must be used in watering, 
until the plants are thoroughly established. After shifting, place the plants in the greenhouse, 
or a close frame, maintain a close atmosphere, and syringe daily in bright weather. This treat- 
ment should be commenced in jMarch, and the plants should be gro■s^^l "^-igorously until Jidj-, at 
which time it wiU be necessary to expose them to the frill sim to ripen the wood and set the 
bloom. Diu-ing then- growth take care to stop the shoots regidarly, so as to induce a com- 
pact habit, and also to get a great qiiantity of small short stifi" branches, as these are the 
most likely to produce flower buds. A plant properly grown and trained into a pjTamidal 
form will attain a height of from two to three feet, and eighteen inches or two feet in dia- 
meter at the base, in one season ; and such a plant, either forced into bloom, or allowed 
to flower natm-ally, mil be fomid a very interesting object. These plants we find first rate 
for forcing, coming into bloom veiy surely and rapidl}', and continuing a very long time. 
After the plants have produced then- fiowers they shovdd be cut in jiretty closely, be allowed 
to rest for a few weeks, and then be started into free growth. In the second season they may 
be allowed to make then- growth in the open aii-, taking care to shift them when necessary, and 
to ciu'b exuberant growth. Those, who want early flowers for the conservatory, -mR find 
a dozen or so of these plants very useful. Planted against a south wall, and protected in 
severe weather, no doiibt both these species of Ceanothus would su.cceed, and, should they 
prove quite hardy, we can imagine nothing finer as lawn shrubs. Where planted in the 
open ail', the soil should be porous and not too rich, so as to induce short, compact, and well 
matured growth. — A. 
THE PREPARATION OF THE POLYANTHUS FOR EXHIBITION. 
By Mr. GEOEGE GLENjST, E.H.S. 
fF the exhibitor of the Polyanthus is determined to grow them in pots, there should be a very different sys- 
tem pm'sned to any we have yet seen adopted ; we have known some of the best growers in England 
grow them in the ground, and pot them for exhibition, and the only drawback to this is, the chance of 
injiu-y, and the consequent flagging of the plant. Plants so treated, sent from a distance, by the time 
they are set up for show generally have the trusses, which might have been close, opened, and the foot- 
stalks all flabby, and the plants evidently droopmg. The taking up from the ground and potting, 
must, therefore, be done well, so that the plant does not feel the move. It stands to reason, that a 
ti'uss of flowers which touch each other, because the stiff and elastic footstalks hold them there, will be 
loose and ugly, if the footstalks droop ever so little, or lose in the most trifling degree then- elasticity. 
But the Polyanthus, if grown in pots for show, and intended for exhibition against good growers, must be 
in very different pots to those in wliich they are produced. A strong fine root of Tantarara, or any of 
the fine large sorts, would require a 9-inch pot. The Polyanthus wants quite as much room as a Carna- 
tion or Picotee, and the fashion to show them in pots, crowded with roots, and not large enough to 
flower them properly, is much against the quality of the bloom. 
The Polyanthus should be reduced to seven of its best pips, and the plant restricted to a single truss 
If we have to pot up a plant from the ground, let the earth first be soaked the day before, down to the 
lowest part of the roots ; then dig round it, at sufficient distance to be beyond the fibres, and, when 
deep enough, piit the spade under, and lift the mass out ; when this is done, reduce the ball carefully 
to the size of the pot, so that it wiU just go in ; and, as it is essential to fill up the sides of the ball 
solid, let it be done ^vith dry silver sand, which will rmi mto every crevice, and, when watered, will 
be quite solid ; at all events, if there be any holes or vacancies, a ftutber supply of sand 'will complete 
it. There will be no flagging here, unless the fibres have been broken in redvicing the ball, but, as you 
see what you are about, aUthe while you reduce it, you would naturally desist if you come to any of them. 
Polyanthuses so potted up are objected to at some shows ; but, unless it is to encom-age pot cxdtm'e, 
instead of good cultui'e, mtliout any reference to pots, it is ti'ifling to make the objection. If, how- 
ever, you are not allowed to pot up, and must grow all the while in pots, let the last shift be in full a 
size lai'ger pot than they are ever grown in now ; because, we tliink they are somewhat starved ; at 
least, all we ever saw, appeared starved, compared with their bretlu-en in the open border. We have 
no doubt nor difficulty about growing the Polyanthus Ln pots ; but even those who grow the plants all 
