68 



THE MANAGEMENT OF GREEN-HOUSES. 



eighty-four pots, if there he only one of 

 each variety; but these are all subjects 

 that may rank high as rich and beautiful 

 plants, blooming at different periods. If 

 the greenhouse would hold more, and a 

 lady is inclined to grow more species, in- 

 stead of doubling some of these, let them 

 be selected at nurseries according to fancy. 

 If we had to recommend, we should say 

 double the number of varieties of Camellia, 

 Erica, Cineraria, Fuchsia, Geranium, Cal- 

 ceolaria, Ixia, Verbena, and Azalea indica; 

 or if not the latter, have duplicates of each 

 sort of the best six. Very few plants could 

 be added with so much advantage to the 

 collection, as increasing the varieties, or 

 doubling those mentioned. We are to pre- 

 sume that these plants are purchased in 

 nursery pots, and it must be taken as a ge- 

 neral rule, that no plant must be kept in 

 the nursery pot without examination. Our 

 business, however, must be to take family 

 by family, and so direct the fair cultivator, 

 that no vast error can be committed. 



STATE OF THE HOUSE. 



The temperature of the greenhouse is 

 important; a free ventilation is desirable, 

 nay, absolutely necessary, but a current of 

 air is to be avoided ; it is as injurious to 

 plants as to persons. Two doors opposite 

 to each other should not be open, unless 

 the weather is very still, and all the front 

 windows are open also. In cold weather 

 and when the wind is chiily, the door at 

 the windy end should never be opened. It 

 is better to open all the front windows in 

 mild weather, unless the wind blows on 

 them, when they are better closed, and the 

 top lights let down a little. In very damp 

 weather the fire should be lighted to dry 

 the house, and the top lights be lowered to 

 let out the steam. In frosty weather, when 

 there is danger in leaving the house with- 

 out fire, it should be lighted all day ; and 

 even in a frost the top lights may be down 

 a little, but the glass must be watched, and 

 at night, instead of making up extra fire 

 and closing all the house to increase the 

 temperature, have proper persons to attend, 

 and to see that the house is not warmer, 

 nor so warm if possible, as it was in the 

 day. Thirty-five is high enough for the 

 night, but few trust to it, because three 



degrees lower is frost ; forty-five is, how- 

 ever, quite as much as it ought under any 

 circumstances to reach at night, for there 

 is not one greenhouse plant that does so 

 well with fire heat as without it, if there be 

 no frost. 



There are different dispositions and habits 

 among the families we have mentioned, 

 but they will all do well in the same house, 

 by giving some the coolest and others the 

 warmest place; but care should be always 

 taken to have the house cooler by night 

 than by day, whenever it is practicable. 

 Nevertheless, there will be times when the 

 severity of the frost, with a wind to assist 

 it, will so lower the temperature, that all 

 the fire you can give the house maybe only 

 sufficient to keep out the cold and prevent 

 the temperature from going down to freez- 

 ing point. As regards giving air, even in 

 the height of summer, if there be plants in 

 the house, there should be no thorough 

 draught from end to end ; let the top lights 

 be down, and the front lights open, and 

 then there is a circulation all over the tops 

 of the plants, but no draught through them. 



PLAN OF A STAGE AND SHKLVES. 



The front of the greenhouse is the most 

 valuable part; a shtlf along the top, just 

 over the front windows, and under the roof, 

 is essential, as it holds all small things that 

 want to be near the glass. The table, or 

 broad shelf in front, at the bottom of the 

 front lights, should be as wide as two feet, 

 for it is of great service for many plants 

 that require constant care and attention ; 

 they are easily got at, they are near the 

 light, may be turned round easily every 

 day to prevent their growing one-sided ; 

 and this front should be wood trellis-shelv- 

 ing instead of solid, or instead of stone or 

 slate; nevertheless, if it be solid, strips of 

 lath should be laid along, an inch or so 

 apart, so that the bottoms of the pots may 

 not be on a flat place, so as to exclude the 

 air from the drainage-hole. There should 

 also be a good shelf on the back wall near 

 the top for such of the plants as want most 

 air and least warmth, especially for things 

 that rest all the winter, and the main stage 

 should be as near the glass as it is possible 

 to construct it, due regard being had to the 

 growth of the plants. There should not be 



