364 THE FLOKAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the top of the house at the same time. In frosty weather use fire 

 as sparingly as is consistent with keeping the frost out, otherwise 

 plants may become drawn. We are supposing that a pit is at hand 

 for the preservation of the store plants for the flower garden, such 

 as verbenas, petunias, young geraniums, etc., which are first struck 

 off* and hardened for a few weeks under a south wall, if not, a few 

 shelves may be placed upon brackets, or suspended from the roof 

 rafters, a few inches from the glass, for their accommodation during 

 the winter, and in summer may be taken down and stored away. 

 Most of the geraniums in such a situation would stand almost 

 through the winter without water ; but other things must be fre- 

 quently examined, especially if standing thickly in their pots, to see 

 that they do not suffer for want of water. The herbaceous calceo- 

 larias and the fancy geraniums will also do well upon such a shelf, 

 but the former must sometimes be sprinkled over their foliage, as 

 they do not prosper so well in any situation as a cool pit. But to 

 follow out our supposition that a pit of some kind is at hand, if only 

 a turf pit, made of peat sods, with ivaterjjroof lights, and a good dry 

 drainage at bottom, which may be effected by filling in with a few- 

 inches of broken bricks, charcoal, or dry cinder-ashes, or small coke, 

 on which to place the pots containing the cuttings. In such a 

 structure the great enemy to combat is damp. Let, then, the lights 

 be tilted every fine day. Frequently look for damp or decayed 

 leaves. If any plant requires, take it out to water, and keep it out 

 until the surplus water is drained from it. Should any worms be 

 seen to work in any of the pots, lose no time in turning out the 

 plant to find them, as they obstruct the drainage and sour the soil; 

 and should the mildew appear in the form of white spots upon the 

 foliage or stems of the plants, be also equally expeditious in dusting 

 a pinch of sulphur over the infected plant. In frosty weather make 

 sure by dry coverings to exclude frost ; but should any doubt exist 

 on that head when the frost leaves us, be in no haste to expose the 

 plants to light ; it is much safer to give air by degrees before strip- 

 ping off" the covering, as plants will recover from the eff'ect of slight 

 frosting whilst kept in the dark, whilst one gleam of sunshine would 

 be fatal. Having disposed of the flowering and growing plants in 

 the greenhouse, and the young stock, either in a pit or upon shelves, 

 there remain two other classes of plants to provide for, namely, the 

 greenhouse plants for a state of rest, with which we shall associate 

 large plants used in flower-garden decoration, and plants requiring 

 a little warmth to bring out their flowers before carried to the green- 

 house. The former of these may be kept under any temporary 

 shelter until the very verge of winter, such as an open shed, in front 

 of which may be suspended mats, tarpaulings, etc. ; but the cultivator 

 must, at the same time, be prepared with the means of protection 

 ready at any moment that serious frost sets in, and, as every place 

 off'ers some special and distinct means, differing from another, we 

 can only offer general hints, leaving the details to circumstances. A 

 shed or out-house with close-fitting doors and windows, especially if 

 built with hollow walls, and having reed, or some other non-con- 

 ducting substance for a roof, would protect many plants for a con- 



