226 THE FLORIST. 



sary to give heed towards the welfare of the young stock, and the 

 sooner they are housed the better; but before filhng the pit with 

 the plants, the floor of it must be laid about 4 or 6 inches thick with 

 either lime-rubbish or coal-ashes, a mixture of both will answer well. 

 The object of this is to prevent the worms rising and entering at the 

 bottom of the pots. In arranging the plants, let all the tallest be 

 placed at the back of the pit, and the smallest towards the front. 

 Those which are deciduous, such as Fuchsias, China, and Tea- 

 scented Roses, Hydrangeas, &c., should be placed nearest the front 

 of the pit, as they will be able to do with less light than the Gera- 

 niums, Verbenas, Heliotropes, and other plants which retain their 

 leaves during the winter. After they have been properly placed in 

 their winter-quarters, they must receive as much air and hght as it is 

 possible to give them, so long as the weather continues mild and 

 open; and it is not until we have unmistakable indications of winter 

 having set in, that we are to deprive them of these necessaries. The 

 great objects to be attended to during the winter are — first, to keep 

 out the frost; and secondly, to keep the plants sufficiently dry. The 

 best way to keep out the frost is to cover the lights with old blankets 

 or other woollen materials. In watering the plants, this must be 

 done with great judgment, as the whole success of wintering almost 

 depends on this alone. It is only when the soil seems to have got 

 thoroughly dried that water is to be given ; but it will rarely happen 

 in a pit of the kind we have described that watering will be required 

 at all, but when it is requisite to do so, a fine clear day should always 

 be selected. When water is given, it should be with a pot without 

 a rose to it, it being allowed only to come in contact M'ith the soil, 

 •without touching the leaves or shoots. Another matter of import- 

 ance is the proper management of the plants should they become 

 frosted. It may happen that there will be frosts so severe as to pene- 

 trate the pit and freeze every plant in it. Should such be the case, 

 the frame must on no account be opened, no admission of light or 

 air allowed, but let the whole be kept as close as possible until 

 the external atmosphere has yielded to opposite influences. It is 

 only after a thaw, therefore, that the pit is to be opened, and a free 

 supply of light and air given. Such is the management that will be 

 requisite during the winter. In the spring, when the frame will 

 be required for forcing purposes (about the middle or rather the end 

 of February), and will consequently have to be removed from the pit, 

 it will be necessary to have the pit hooped over, and securely covered 

 with mats, and such other protecting materials as can be procured. 

 "We have seen a very good covering for this purpose formed of straw 

 hurdles, made close and thick, and placed over the pit thus A* 

 These may be additionally protected with mats, &c." 



It will be gleaned from the above that every thing that is ad- 

 vanced is strictly practical, and therefore we can safely recommend 

 it to our readers as a sure guide on the subject on which it treats. 



