22 THE FLORIST. 



covering the front and exposed ends of a greenhouse with mats, which 

 can be taken down or put up in a few minutes, as occasion requires. 

 Pits for the wintering of bedding plants having frequently no heating 

 apparatus, necessarily require a substantial covering in severe weather. 

 Dry liay sj)read over tlie glass and covered by mats, or a layer of hay 

 between two mats, will exclude a very sharp frost; and a rough 

 frame-work of wood, made to cover one light, and thatched with straw, 

 is a very efficient protector. A lining of tree-leaves round the out- 

 side of the pits is also of great assistance in keeping out cold. 



But dajnp will be found as destructive as cold to such plants, 

 unless they are freely aired at every favourable opportunity. On fine 

 dry days take the lights quite off; and when mild but rainy weather 

 occurs elevate the side of every light by setting one end of a tilt 

 under the stile, and the other upon the rafter; this plan admits 

 much more air than tilting the lights at the back in the usual way. 

 Dead leaves favour the extension of damp or mouldiness in moist 

 weather ; so they should not be suffered to remain on the plants. 

 Water, too, must be very sparingly given at this season, especially 

 if no provision exists for drying the air by artificial means. When 

 the soil in a pot is too dry, it is only the work of a few seconds to 

 remedy the evil by giving it water; but if too wet, a considerable time 

 must elapse before the excess of moisture is removed by evaporation, 

 and in the interim the roots of the plant are liable to be perished by 

 the chill. Plants with semi-succulent stems, such as scarlet Gera- 

 niums, will hardly require watering at all during the dead of winter. 

 Among greenhouse plants. Pelargoniums are exceedingly susceptible 

 of injury from overwatering ; so likewise is Mignonette ; and indeed, 

 as a general rule, it is better to under than over water at this time of 

 the year. 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



At a late meeting, Mr. Schroder of Stratford produced a most lovely 

 exhibition of Mr. Skinner's Barkeria (B. Skinneri). It consisted of 

 three plants of this charming Orchid, each bearing from twelve to 

 fifteen spikes of rosy-purple flowers. It is difficult to conceive any 

 thing more handsome at this proverbially flowerless season than these 

 were ; and we would advise all who have the means, to cultivate this 

 Barkeria pretty largely for winter decoration. It forms a worthy 

 companion to the ever-blooming, chaste, white-flowered Phalaenopsis 

 amabilis and grandiflora. Mrs. Lawrence of Ealing Park sent, among 

 other things, the very scarce Vanda violacea, having two beautiful 

 pendent spikes of pink-stained white waxy flowers, which, a short 

 distance off", might easily have been mistaken for those of an Aerides. 

 The same garden also furnished the rather new orange-flowered 

 Aphelandra, which bids fair to become a favourite stove-plant. Of 

 other subjects, perhaps the most beautiful was a dwarf Chrysanthemum 

 from Mr. Moore of Chelsea. It measured tw^enty inches high and 

 the same across, and had thirty-one stems or branches, ofwhich 



