SEPTEMBER. 203 



duce these destructive visitants, and they require to be very closely 

 sought. 



Every precaution should be taken against mildew. If the wea- 

 ther be cloudy and wet, a brisk heat should be maintained, that we 

 may not have a cold, damp atmosphere. The house ought also to 

 be swept out frequently, and kept clean. Probably the close atmo- 

 sphere in which the plants are necessarily grown during the early 

 part of the forcing season contributes, in no small degree, to en- 

 courage mildew : if it does appear, it is seldom till late in the season, 

 when the plants have been in the house some length of time. The 

 appHcation of sulphur is a well-known remedy, dusted on the leaves, 

 while wet, from a dredging-box ; and by admitting abundance of air, 

 and at the same time applying lire-heat, should the house be damp, 

 to establish a free circulation among the plants, its progress will cer- 

 tainly be arrested. 



Suckers. — Among the worked plants, an eye should be had to 

 suckers, which may, when young, be radically removed by clasping 

 them firmly between the thumb and finger, and drawing them stea- 

 dily out. 



Watering. — During their growth, the plants should be freely 

 watered ; occasionally with guano-water, about the temperature of 

 the house ; or, if worms work in the pots, lime-water is an efficient 

 remedy. 



Season of Floivering. — Late in Februaiy a few precocious flower- 

 buds will expand. By the middle of March the plants will probably 

 be in full bloom, when syringing may be dispensed with for a time. 

 A light shading will be found necessary during the middle of the 

 day, to prevent the flowers flagging, and fire-heat should be in some 

 degree diminished. 



A continual succession of flowers may be obtained, by remov- 

 ing some of the plants, at different periods, as the buds shew colour, 

 to a house of a lower temperature. This will also be the means of 

 increasing the size and deepening the tints of the flowers. 



Now, as soon as the plants have flowered, such as are termed 

 Summer Roses (those blooming but once in the season) may be re- 

 moved to a cold pit or house, to make room for the admission of 

 fresh plants kept in reserve for the purpose. 



Pruning Autumnals for Second Bloom. — The shoots of the Au- 

 tumnal, or perpetual-flowering kinds, may be cut back, and they 

 will give forth a second crop of flowers in fine perfection by the end 

 of May. Many, if not pruned, would continue flowering ; but prun- 

 ing is recommended, if care be taken to remove no more leaves than 

 is necessary in the operation. After April, very little fire-heat is 

 necessary, especially if the weather be warm and sunny ; and after 

 flowering a second time, the plants may be removed from the house, 

 surfaced with a little manure, and plunged in an airy situation, there 

 to remain till required for forcing the succeeding year. Thus treated, 

 they may be induced to flower well, forced several years in succession." 



As regards late-flowering varieties, Mr. Paul has the following 

 excellent remarks : 



