i88i.] WINTER FLOWERS. 539 



of forced plants will take the place of Chrysanthemums, where there are means 

 to bring forward the numerous plants often referred to for conservatory decora- 

 tion. Better to err on the side of low temperature at this season than the 

 reverse — small batches taken in often, are preferable to large quantities at 

 longer periods. All plants to be forced should be under protection of some 

 kind. " Never take frozen plants into heat ; all forcing should be gradual, 

 and as natural as possible. At all times take every advantage of sun-heat. 

 Greenhouse plants of the hardwood class should have plenty of air when 

 weather is mild. Use fire-heat to expel damp, and the temperature need 

 not fall much below 40°. About 45°, all other things being equal, will suit 

 most plants in the daytime — at night 6° or so less in severe weather is all 

 the better for the plants. Cinerarias, Calceolarias, Cyclamens, and Pelar- 

 goniums require plenty of light and air, and damp must not be confined in 

 the structure. The last named may be kept drier and more airy tLan the 

 others. Mildew must have no place, but have sulphur dusted over it. 

 Vermin and decaying matter must not be seen. In stoves the treatment 

 varies little from last month : numbers of the plants grown specially for 

 Christmas decoration will now be well forward. Among the chief of them 

 are Poinsettias, Begonias, Euphorbias, Scutellaria?, Calanthes, &c. Gloxinias 

 may be started if wanted early — also xVchimenes, a few Caladiums, and others. 

 Mixed stoves may be very " quiet " at this season. Temperatures need not 

 be over 55° at night, and 60° by day. Thrips are always very active at this 

 season : keep the sponge going. M. T. 



WINTER FLOWERS. 



Conservatories should be brilliant now with flowering-plants, and at 

 no season of the year — not even during the summer — do flowers present 

 such a bright and cheerful appearance. When the days are shortening 

 fast, and assume their most dismal aspect, conservatories and other 

 houses kept gay with flowering-plants are generally places of resort ; 

 and frequently much time is spent in these structures during the 

 winter, especially by ladies. Under such circumstances it behoves 

 gardeners to render them as attractive as possible. Cleanliness is of 

 the utmost importance, and in such places even extra precautions 

 should be taken ; if dirty they cannot be enjoyable. The glass and 

 woodwork should be clean, and not a green or dirty pot to be found. 

 The stages on which flowering-plants are arranged should be gone over 

 every morning when the watering is being attended to, and all sickly 

 leaves and decaying flowers should be removed. These houses should 

 be, by the time employers are ready to visit them, clean and beautiful. 

 If directions previously given in the 'Gardener' have been carried 

 out, there will be no scarcity of flowers, but abundance, and in good 

 variety. 



Early and hard forcing of Azaleas, Camellias, Rhododendrons, and 

 other plants, can be avoided, if a judicious system of preparation 

 of suitable kinds has been carried out during the summer. How- 



