APRIL. 81 



As the season advances, abundance of air and light is necessary 

 for the well-being of the plants. When the sun attains great power, 

 and they are in full bloom, a thin canvass shade will be of great ad- 

 vf.ntage, both for their health and for prolonging the flowering 

 season. The air at this season is often dry and parching, abstract- 

 ing moisture from the plants through the pores of the leaves, and 

 drying the soil quickly in the pots. This waste of moisture must 

 be counteracted by copious supplies of water at the root, and by 

 frequently wetting the walks and platforms, and even the outsides of 

 the pots, and also by syringing the plants when not in flower. These 

 applications give a freshness to the plants and a pleasant coolness 

 to the air. 



As soon as the bloom is over, the plants must be taken out of 

 the greenhouse, and the long flowering shoots cut down close to the 

 place from which they sprung. When thus pruned, they should be 

 placed either in a cold frame or upon a bed of coal-ashes, in a place 

 shaded from the mid-day sun ; the former situation is the best, because 

 they can be sheltered from heavy rains, which are injurious to them 

 in consequence of having lost such a large portion of foliage. This 

 infers also that they do not require much water at the root till fresh 

 growth takes place. If there is not the convenience of a frame or 

 pit, they may be set out of doors ; but precaution should be taken to 

 shelter them from heavy showers by a covering formed with hoops 

 and mats, or oiled canvass. 



When the new shoots have progressed about an inch, give the 

 plants a liberal shift. As soon as that is efl'ected, give a good water- 

 ing to settle the soil, and replace them in their former quarters, 

 where they may remain for a month or six weeks, due attention 

 being paid to give them liberal supplies of water, and if in frames, 

 abundance of air ; the first to induce plenty of shoots to push forth, 

 and the other to give a short-jointed, stiff, and robust character to 

 the branches. As the shoots advance, they must be so trained as 

 to give the plants a handsome form. To eff'ect this well, slender 

 sticks, painted green, will be necessary. These should be as long, 

 or nearly so, as the shoots are likely to grow. Place them so that 

 the branches will be equidistant from each other, and so arranged 

 that the strongest will be in the centre, and the next strongest sur- 

 rounding them, whilst the middling ones will be on the outside, the 

 whole forming a handsome pyramid of blooming shoots. Any weak 

 branches that are not needed should be cut away, to allow more light 

 and air to the best shoots. This arrangement of the branches should 

 be looked to three or four times during the period of growth. 



So soon as the leaves are in some measure proportionate to the 

 roots, expose the plants to the full influence of the light, except for 

 about two or three hours, that is, from eleven till two, in the middle 

 of the day ; more or less shade would be injurious. When the days 

 shorten, and there is the least fear of frost, remove them into a good 

 airy greenhouse, or into a deep pit. If in the latter, let them be 

 covered up securely every night with garden-mats, or any other 

 eflfectual protection. T. Appleby. 



NEW SERIES. VOL. II. NO. XVI. H 



