1870.] CHAPTER FOR AMATEURS. 119 



lous, but I have heard it put forth in sober earnest recently by some 

 who were jealous of the number of professional horticulturists then 

 sitting upon the committee of a local horticultural society. I take an 

 "amateur," in a horticultural sense, to be a person who loves the 

 practice of it and all that relates to it, and who, not being a profes- 

 sional gardener in the ordinary acceptation of the term, does yet dis- 

 play such a knowledge of gardening and a capacity to acquire more of 

 the knowledge, as shall place him, in respect of many of the subjects 

 he cultivates, almost or entirely on an equality with his professional 

 brethren : nay more, there are some true amateur horticulturists who 

 are in reality among the very lights and leaders in certain sections of 

 horticultural practice. These, of course, constitute an exceptional 

 class, but the great mass of amateurs are to be found in the humbler 

 walks of life — such as clerks, small tradesmen, artisans, and labourers, 

 who, after their ordinary daily occupations are over, find pleasure, re- 

 creation, and even profit, in devoting their hours of leisure to the cul- 

 tivation of their gardens and the few specialties to the growth of 

 which they particularly incline. I stated in my previous paper that I 

 purposed saying something, later on, having special reference to that 

 numerous class that are designated general amateur cultivators, who, 

 being without any particular taste, yet take special delight in all the 

 various features of their gardens. Perhaps they have a small green- 

 house filled with plants of a varying character, that are just now look- 

 ing very rough through the want of a little attention \ their Pelargo- 

 niums are covered with dead or half-rotten leaves, that should be at 

 once gathered off, and the plants neatly cleaned ; the Fuchsias want 

 to be shortened back and exposed to the light to induce a strong 

 healthy growth ; Cinerarias will want shifting into larger pots, and 

 kept moist, as nothing promotes green-fly amongst these so much as 

 the flagging of the foliage ; Calceolarias should also be shifted into their 

 blooming-pots, and kept as near the glass as possible ; nothing spoils 

 them so much as becoming drawn for want of being nearer the light ; 

 and they require watching closely for green-fly, and the plants should 

 be fumigated the moment this pest becomes visible. The great secret 

 of keeping plants healthy in a greenhouse is to keep not only the 

 plants, but the house also, very clean — to water all but growing plants 

 sparingly, and even then to be careful that no stagnant water lies 

 about, either on the shelves or floor of the house ; fire-heat should not 

 be given too freely, as its chief use in a greenhouse is to keep out 

 frost and damp, when these descriptions of weather prevail. To- 

 wards the end of the month, some pots of tender annuals maybe sown, 

 such as Ten- week Stocks, Asters, Balsams, Cockscombs, &c, and placed 

 on a shelf near the glass — the earlier they are pushed forward the bet- 



