Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/104

96 Use a compost consisting of turfy loam three parts, and thoroughly-decayed manure one part, and a rather liberal quantity of silver sand. The plants intended for standard specimens must have all the side-shoots nipped off until the stem has attained the desired height, and then the terminal point must be pinched off five or six joints above where the last side-shoots were removed. Side-branches will soon be produced at four or five joints nearest the top, and these must be stopped when a few inches in length. The main stem will require supporting with a stout stake, and a ring of strong wire should be fixed horizontally near the top, and the main side-branches trained to it. The latter must be stopped as often as may be necessary for the formation of a dense head.

To produce pyramidal specimens, train the leading shoot in an upright manner and stop it once or twice, if necessary, to induce the plants to produce a beautiful proportion of side-shoots, which also must be stopped once or twice. Sometimes the leading shoot will break freely, and then it is not necessary to stop it. The same sized pots and soil should be used as recommended for the standards, and most efficient trainers may be extemporised by a stout stake and a few pieces of wood. After the plants have had their last shift, insert the stake in the centre of the pot; then make a ring of stout wire about two feet in diameter, and with two cross-pieces of either wood or wire. Lay it on the top of the pot, and fix it in its place either with stout pegs driven into the soil, or else fix a piece of wire just underneath the rim of the pot, and fasten the cross-pieces to it; then fasten lengths of thin wire or string to the wire hoop, and bring the other ends to the top of the stake and securely fasten them there. The young growth must then be trained to the trellis regularly. A cold frame will be the most desirable position for the stock until September, when it should be removed to the greenhouse. Liberal supplies of water will be required until August, and afterwards it must be applied in a more sparing manner; but the plants must not at any season of the year suffer through the soil being kept too dry. It will also be needful to sprinkle them overhead two or three times a week during warm weather, but it matters not whether a water-can, to which a fine rose is fixed, or a syringe is employed.

.&mdash;A pretty genus of Cape bulbs, that may be