THE FLORIST. 
23 
places ; so much so, as scarcely to be recognised as the same 
varieties. 
By the middle of this month the weather is usually so warm, 
that the frames containing the plants in pots should be reversed, 
so as to face the north, which will help to keep them cooler; and 
the most favourable spot should be selected to this end. As before 
recommended, keep the lights pulled back on all occasions when the 
weather will permit; but previous to an exhibition, much care and 
attention will be necessary, as more flowers will be made unfit for 
competition by friction from the wind than from any other cause. 
It will be evident that the larger and finer the blooms are, the more 
liable they will be to get blown about. Yet to keep the lights con¬ 
stantly on would soon spoil the succession-blooms, by drawing the 
plants. 
The same directions will answer for watering the beds; they will 
not, of course, require it so often. 
When in flower, the plants should not be watered over head, par¬ 
ticularly if blooms are likely to be required at no distant period. 
The principal exhibitions for this flower will take place about this 
time; to succeed at which, care must be taken of blooms that will be 
in at a given day. To do this, a little shading will be necessary. 
Those that are in the habit of growing dahlias, carnations, or pinks 
for exhibition, will have ample means for this purpose. Shades 
made of tin, pasteboard, canvass, or small hand-glasses, will be found 
equally useful. Never shade the entire bed with canvass or other 
material; it would bring one fine head of bloom for a week or so, 
but from that time the blooms would degenerate in size, with drawn- 
up plants. We need not point out the difference between the Pansy 
and the tulip. The succession of bloom required from the former, 
and not from the latter, accounts for the difference in the mode of 
shading. But with the shades we first described, a single bloom 
can be protected without injury to the plant itself, or those around 
it. Remove the shade a few hours in the morning and evening; it 
will invigorate the bloom selected, and keep that part of the plant 
from drawing. 
Much good will result from having some tall upright stakes, or 
any pieces of wood sufficiently high, placed close to the bed on the 
south side, to which fix some very thin canvass during the heat of 
the day. This will not draw the plants, as the canvass we use is 
sufficiently thin to admit the air passing through it; yet has the 
desired effect, by keeping the blooms in colour a longer time. 
Six days before a show will suffice to look round for blooms likely 
to be good when fully grown; but the blooms so selected must not 
be shaded until a day or two later. This is supposing that the wea¬ 
ther is ‘warm ; but should it be otherwise, extend the time, as the 
number of days a bloom will keep will depend on the weather. 
Those of good substance will of course keep the longest. 
Put in as many cuttings as can be procured in this month; it will 
answer two purposes; strengthen the plant in the main shoots, and 
thereby increase the size of the blooms, and at the same time ensure 
