GENERAL TREATMENT.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 34, 30 January 1930, Page 9

GENERAL TREATMENT.

To grow the .plants: rapidly -into a large size it is necessary to treat them to an intermediate temperature during' the spring. , Whenever the sun shines brightly the plants should stand on a damp, eoojl bottom—riot on ordinary open stages—and be freely and frequently syringed until the flower corner Watering must never t»e neglected; -tine plants, enjoy Jiiore than the average amount, especially when the pots are! getting full of roots, ait which time, too,v they will be, grateful for frequent doses) of weak manure water, of a cooling nar*' ture such as.that obtained by steeping; sheep or cow manure in a tub of water;' this siiould alw^ays be given in a, clear s^tate, for when thick it cakes on the surface of the soil, which is thus rendered impervious to:air,

VaTieties of bushy habit will require but very little stopping, others must iave the points of the shoots ~pinched out two or three times to render them bushy or .to. attain /the desired shape; this stopping must not be carried on far into t*he sunoiimer months, and, if wanted at tiLeir best at a given time, the last pinching should take placßj about six or eight weeks beforehand.; Should the plants- be already bushy; enough the flowering period may be re-J tarded by" picking off ;the early budst as t>hey form, thus reserving the ener-> gies bf the plants. §To keep up a successipn of flowers the fniits must bfe picked off as the, floweis 'drop, for the proliiction of seeds will soon prevent all further efforts to flower.

As the >-late autumn comes on water should ibe gradually withheld, and when the leaves Siave dropped the plants can be stoTed for the winter.in any frosts

roof place that is not artifieally heated. Should the winter quarters be very, idryj it may be- necessary to damp the stems slightly with the syringe now and then to prevent s&riveiling, ibut.no water should be given to the roots.