JANUARY. 21 



the air possible to the plants, and keep them clean and moderately 

 dry. 



Cinerarias. Pick off decaying leaves, and keep down insects ; 

 give air at every opportunity, so ais to keep the leaves as dry as pos- 

 sible ; but do not neglect the roots if they want water : on these two 

 points will hinge the future health of the plants. 



Cold Frames. The present is a most trying season for such 

 persons as have to preserve greenhouse and half-hardy plants in cold 

 frames. Frost and damp will require to be guarded against with 

 watchful diligence, especially the latter. It is easy to exclude frost ; 

 plenty of clean dry straw with which to cover the glass, and a thick- 

 ness of 12 or 18 inches of any nonconducting material placed against 

 the sides of the frame, will leave little to fear from the intrusion of 

 the ice-king ; but be careful that he does not pay you a visit while 

 you may have neglected these precautions. If a light waterproof 

 cloth be applied to cover the straw, it will be found highly beneficial. 

 Damp will probably prove the most troublesome and destructive agent 

 of the two ; this is more effectually guarded against by the constant 

 application of forethought and preventive measures, than by any 

 means which can be applied after the enemy has fairly got possession ; 

 and unless the most rigid attention has been paid hitherto to such 

 means, the number of deaths will probably be great. Never water 

 any plant which does not absolutely require it ; water early in the 

 morning ; and never allow this element to fall upon any plant or 

 part of the interior of your frame which does not need it : very little 

 water will be sufficient until the sun acquires strength. Let no 

 favourable opportunity for giving air escape ; and give it as liberally 

 as possible. Remove all decaying leaves the moment they make their 

 appearance. 



Epacrises. The flower-buds will ripen and expand more freely 

 in a temperature of 45° or 50° than in a lower one ; but they will 

 nevertheless succeed very well with less heat. Water sparingly ; 

 and when air is required for a short time in the middle of a sunny 

 day, give it from the roof. Have fuel, to light a fire before going 

 to bed, should the thermometer be approaching freezing. 



Ericas. Keep the temperature low, and give air on all fitting 

 occasions, but avoid the freezing-point ; every day will increase the 

 risk of injury to flowering growth by exposure to a temperature below 

 32°. In wet and close weather the fire should be lighted in the 

 morning, to dry the plants and floor of the house, taking care not 

 to raise the temperature : dry low temperature and free circulation 

 are the greatest enemies to mildew, to which the Heath is subject. 



Evergreens. Reminiscences of Christmas festivities, and asso- 

 ciations of fireside comfort, are of old connected witli cheerful Bri- 

 tish Evergreens ; and of all others the present is the season in which 

 we most admire their rich masses. Owing, however, to their not 

 being so pleasing at other seasons of the year as many of our de- 

 ciduous shrubs and trees, particularly such as produce l)lossoms, 

 they are not introduced into gardens generally so liberally as they 

 deserve to be ; and without attempting to detract from the beauty of 



