FEBRUARY. 
35 
the Crab stock, which makes them grow too strong for pots. There 
are also three or four sorts of Apple with rose-tinted blooms, which if 
dwarfed and got into bloom early would be a great acquisition to collec¬ 
tions of forced flowers. I have not tried them myself, but intend 
doing so. The beautiful Carnation Peaches must not be omitted, 
especially those introduced by Mr. Glendinning, and of which you gave 
us capital figures in the Florist some months ago. 
I must next notice Ribes sanguineum, and R. aureum praecox and 
flavum ; these may be grown in the open ground and trained into form 
until large enough for forcing. In August I cut with a sharp spade all 
round the plants, and leave a ball no larger than will go into a suitable 
sized pot. This treatment checks the plants, and by the first week in 
October they may be lifted and potted, placing them in the shade for a 
fortnight, and then in an open place; a warm greenhouse is all these 
require to bring them into bloom. The common mock Orange, or 
Syringa, is another plant which merits forcing more extensively, for the 
fragrance which a plant or two in blossom imparts to the conservatory. 
The double Cherry, double Sloe, double Plum, and Almond must also 
be included, as showy and very desirable plants ; these should be budded 
on the common S’oe, of which also I beg to give the trade a hint, as it 
would materially dwarf them, and make them more accommodating as 
pot plants, and more prolific of bloom. Magnolia conspicua, Soulangeana, 
and speciosa are grand plants, when well done ; and when once grown 
into a good blooming state will keep so for several years with care. 
Weigela rosea and amabilis are more commonly used than many others 
I have named; but nevertheless my list would be incomplete without 
them—they are both valuable. As are also the Belgian dwarf Honey¬ 
suckle and Lonicera flexuosa and floribunda.—The former is readily 
trained into the shape of low standard bushes, and very easily forced. 
The two latter are also manageable by training them to a low trellis in 
the first place, and then spurring in the shoots and allowing them to 
grow naturally, they will form globular bushes; all are fragrant and 
useful as forced plants. 
Daphne Mezereon is an old but well-known favourite; the large- 
flowered variety is the best. The common and Scotch Laburnums are 
not good plants to dwarf; if they could be worked on some of the 
weaker growing Cytisus, more might be done with them in this way. 
The white and cream-coloured Brooms are useful later in the season; 
but for this class the greenhouse Genistas afford good substitutes. 
Then we have Deutzia gracilis and scabra, particularly the former, 
which is one of the most really beautiful plants for our purpose, when 
trainei so as to form low standards, with stems 6 or 9 inches high 
and globular heads, which when covered with their snow-white flowers, 
are particularly graceful. Nor must I omit the old double and single 
Cydonia, a few bushes of which will warm up a good collection ; to grow 
these well in pots, they require free cultivation and well stopping back 
to throw all the growth into flower buds. I have tried no experiments 
with budding these, but I do not see why some stock could not be found 
for them, so that we might have them in the shape of nice standards ; on 
their own roots they are rather difficult to manage for any length of time. 
