1<U JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



of the Fernery should be performed iu the morning as soon as the 

 heat of the sun has caused the last trace of dew to disappear ; it will 

 then be the best time easily to ascertain what plants are dry and 

 which do not require watering. The best way to apply water is by 

 a small watering-can with a long and pointed spout, but without a 

 rose. By each application of watering the pot should be filled to 

 the brim. Syringing is a work that should always be kept distinct 

 from watering, though it of course considerably lessens the necessity 

 of that operation. An India-rubber hose, a Hydronette, a hand- 

 syringe, or, in the absence of either, the rose of a watering-can may 

 be used for this work. Syringing should be applied on all sunny 

 days, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and during the hot weather when 

 the nights are hot and dry again at about 4 or 5 p.m. The object 

 of syringing is partly to clean the plants from dust, etc., but prin- 

 cipally to check a too rapid evaporation of the plants and to produce 

 additional atmospheric moisture. Care should therefore be taken 

 that all parts of the plants are thoroughly wetted, as also the ex- 

 posed sides of pots, the paths, woodwork, etc., but at the same time 

 as little water as possible should be allowed to lodge in the pots. 

 Cleaning consists in removing dead or withered leaves, in keeping 

 the foliage clean, for which purpose a small sponge is often useful, 

 in destroying and removing destructive insects, caterpillars, eggs of 

 butterflies and moths (which are frequently deposited on the leaves), 

 etc., in uprooting weeds and stirring up the soil in the pots, which is 

 best done with a pointed stick and should be performed frequently. 

 Training consists in supporting the plants by stakes and ties, and 

 should never be resorted to when a plant is sufficiently vigorous to 

 support itself and naturally assumes a handsome and useful habit. 

 By culture many plants however overgrow themselves and lose in 

 f trungth what they gain in luxuriance, so that some kind of support 

 becomes necessary. The supports, be it as stakes, rings, or trellis- 

 work, can all be made of the ever-useful bamboo, which even when 

 cut very fine is strong and fairly dm-able. The supports should as 

 far as possible be concealed by the foliage of the plants. This work 

 should never be entrusted to the rnali, who, if he aims at neatness, 

 which however is not at all likely, will endeavour to show off tho 

 rfection of his skill in manufacturing supports at the expense of 



