iSyi.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 33 



ant to tlie health of tlie plants. All plants, whether tender or hardy, 

 under glass, will require great care with watering, airing, and firing at 

 this season. Water should always be at least as high as the temperature 

 of the structure, and only given when necessary, and then enough to 

 moisten all the soil in the pots. Air, to greenhouse plants, may be 

 freely given when the thermometer out of doors stands above 40° ; 

 but cold currents of frosty air passing through plants of any sort, 

 under glass, is very injurious. In close damp weather, structures 

 should be opened at top only. Where fire-heat can be safely applied, 

 the difficulty of keeping plants is almost done away ; but firing 

 should only be used as a " necessary evil," sufficient to keep up the 

 required heat, or to dry off damp. Chrysanthemums done flowering 

 may have the old tops trimmed off, and the pots plunged in ashes 

 under the protection of a frame, to be kept from frost, so that cuttings 

 may be had in time. Hyacinths in flower may have plenty of manure- 

 water, especially if the pots are small, and several bulbs in each. 

 Roman Hyacinths, now past, have done good service here since the 

 second week of iSTovember. Lily of the Valley, brought forward in a 

 Mushroom-house till the flowers appeared, is now useful. Rhododen- 

 drons and Lilacs, in flower now, are very telling in rooms. Azaleas, 

 Deutzias, Cytisus, Acacias, Cactuses, Crocuses, Snowdrops, and a 

 number of common things, are now useful here ; they had the heat of 

 an early vinery to bring them on till ojoening of flowers, and then were 

 carefully taken where more light and air can be given. Frames 

 placed on the manure-heap, and well banked round with leaves, &c., 

 are turning in useful " odds and ends." Violets, in pits, are giving 

 supplies, but not large ; pots brought forward on the back shelf of a 

 stove are more useful. Cinerarias in flower may have manure- 

 water. Heaths, whether in flower or otherwise, may have abundance 

 of fresh air. The collars of the plants kept sodden wdth wet will soon 

 destroy them : any which are pot-bound, and become accidentally too 

 dry, should be placed in a tank or pail of water, and well soaked till 

 the soil is moistened through. 



Amateurs with fruit-structures in their possession often have to turn 

 them to " houses of all work ; " — Vines, Peaches, and Figs often have 

 to be grown where plants are in flower, or being grown for room-decora- 

 tion. Rhubarb, &c. , is forced in vineries. This often meets with a mea- 

 sure of success when the principal objects of the structure are kept in 

 view. Much can be done, and is done, both in private and market 

 establishments, by turning the Vines outside of the house, first tho- 

 roughly moistening the rods and carefully bending them outside, 

 placing them in a wooden case and packed with straw, or wound 

 round by straw ropes or some other contrivance to keep the Vines dry 



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