Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/114

106, March, or April. As there are many inferior sorts in cultivation it is important to make a good selection, for, between the best and the worst, the difference is as Hyperion to a Satyr. The free-flowering kinds of the most distinct and striking colours are always to be preferred. Many of the most perfect exhibition incurved flowers are not showy, and, although a connoisseur will prefer them to all others, many of the high-coloured reflexed flowers will be preferred by those who are less critical. Plenty of flowers and plenty of colour are the principal desiderata in selecting for conservatory decoration, and happily there are a few of the very finest exhibition kinds, such, for example, as Jardin des Plantes, Mrs. G. Bundle, Dr. Sharp, and the Prince of Wales, which give us an abundance of flowers, of the most attractive character. It is not important to select early-flowering kinds, because, as they will be protected, the November frosts will not affect them. To divide an old plant into a number of suckers, each with a few roots attached, or to make plants from cuttings three inches long is such a simple business that it would be waste of time to go into particulars.

The start having been made, it will be well to bear in mind that the young plants should have as much air and light as possible while in the greenhouse, and that early in April the point of every one should be pinched out to cause the production of side branches. Soon after stopping, shift them into forty-eight size pots. About the middle of May plunge them in a bed of coal-ashes in an open spot, and let them be well taken care of as to watering. In the first week of June look over the plants, and if you are not familiar with the sorts, take a trade catalogue and look them through. When you find by the label on your plant that you have to decide as to one of the finest incurved varieties, do not stop the plant. In any case, if you find the variety is not recommended for specimen culture, refrain from stopping. On the other hand, those which are recommended for specimens may be stopped in the first week of June, as being free to flower. Incurved and late-flowering varieties should only be stopped once, and better if not stopped at all. Reflexed, free-flowering, and early-flowering kinds in all classes may be stopped twice, and the smaller sorts, such as Intermediates and Pompons, may be stopped three times, and the last pinching should be done in the early part of June or by the middle of June at latest.