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fully developed before the plants are reduced to a greenhouse temperature, or 
turned out of doors. When the buds show, something after the manner of those 
of the Rhododendron, the plants may be placed in a greenhouse or cold pit, or 
any convenient structure. This applies more particularly to places sufficiently 
far north of London to render it dangerous to trust them entirely out of doors 
after the middle of September, as I have found it is in this midland district 
(Birmingham), although I have considered them safe in the open air until the 
latter end of October in the neighbourhood of London. However, let them 
be safely sheltered, and receive greenhouse treatment before there is any danger 
of frost. All the care they will require will be to give them sufficient water, 
and that will not be much. 
But to go back a little way. When the plants have finished growing, and 
the buds are formed, will be the best time to pot them into larger pots. Why 
this should be the best time I will endeavour to explain. When potted before 
the growth commences the latter becomes unusually long, the flower-buds do 
not set so well, nor are they so good as when the plants are allowed to make 
their growth in the pots in which they have flowered ; but if they are allowed 
to make their growth and set their buds, the potting can affect neither for that 
season. The plants will then be making fresh fibres into the new soil, and will 
acquire an extra amount of strength for the process of flowering, which will be 
prolonged in consequence, as well as the flowers being finer. 
In potting, let the pots be two sizes larger than those in which the plants 
have grown; let them be clean, and use plenty of drainage. The soil should 
be good peat, a little rough, but not too much so. I generally mix some small 
crocks with it, besides sufficient sand to make the water pass through it 
readily. Press the soil firm round the old ball, but do not make it hard. The 
process of potting, I will suppose, is so far understood as to need no farther 
description; at least the operator should use such care and judgment as will 
show that his own credit has been considered in performing his work. I will 
simply add that the drainage should be perfect, using peat fibre, or moss, 
between the crocks and the soil, the latter being sufficiently moist to allow of 
water passing through it, but not wet enough to allow it to clod together. 
This, I think, is all that need be said as regards potting, but afterwards, when 
the plants require water, which they will do a day or two after potting, enough 
should be given to go through both the old soil and new, and this is only 
accomplished by filling up two or three times; care should also be taken that 
the water is not too cold. Plants are often killed by watering too freely with 
cold water after potting, the roots receiving such a chill that they become 
paralysed, and gradually die without any apparent cause. By about the latter 
end of October, or beginning of November, the plants should be in a state of 
rest, and remain so until the following April, merely receiving cool greenhouse 
treatment; but during that time a little attention should be given to the form 
the plants are ultimately to assume. The pyramid, is considered the most 
preferable, because in that form they show the largest surface of bloom, and 
occupy the least space. If this is to be the form in which they are to grow, a 
little pruning, as well as training, will be necessary. A neat stick should be 
placed in the centre, to which the strongest central shoot should be tied, the 
other shoots either cut or tied into their proper position ; but the cutting may 
be deferred until after flowering. Some, however, prefer having their plants 
in a dwarf bushy form, and many sorts seem to take to it without any training. 
Such sorts as Admiration, Criterion, Yariegata, and others are very dwarf and 
spreading in their habit, and would require much skilful training to bring them 
to the pyramid shape. Azaleas also look very well when grown as standards; 
but the plants for this purpose should be selected for this purpose almost from 
