of Rural Art and Taste. 



325 



G-reenh-ouse for November. 



THE Greenhouse will be the principal point 

 of attraction during the present month ; 

 for, excepting a few Chrysanthemums in shel- 

 tered nooks, there will be few flowers remain- 

 ing out of doors in the north and middle States ; 

 so that every attention should be paid to keep- 

 ing the house as neat and attractive as possible, 

 by attention to clean pots, and removing dead 

 leaves, and placing the most attractive flower- 

 ing and foliage plants in the best position. 

 Now is also a good time to carefully examine 

 all plants likely to be infected with insects. 

 There is usually more leisure for that kind of 

 work at this season, and most plants having 

 completed their growth, will bear more hand- 

 ling without injuring the foliage, than at an 

 earlier date. 



Camellias should be sponged over the 

 foliage to remove dust, before the flowers com- 

 mence to open ; it not only improves the ap- 

 pearance of the plants, but is a great benefit 

 also. If any of the plants have traces of red 

 spider, some sulphur and whale oil soap should 

 be mixed in the water used ; for nothing but 

 dust, clean water is best. 



Azaleas must be kept cool if required to 

 flower late ; and although at this season, when 

 at rest, they do not require frequent watering, 

 care must be taken that the plants do not get 

 very dry, and that a good soaking is given 

 when required. Young plants, and any re- 

 quired to flower very early, must be placed in 

 the warm part of the house ; but in this, 

 especially, thrip will require guarding against, 

 or much damage will be done. But all the 

 plants should have a thorough washing with 

 soap and tobacco water at this season, as pre- 

 viously recommended. This will usually pre- 

 vent much trouble from insects during the suc- 

 ceeding season, unless the plants are neglected. 



Bourardias must be placed in the warm 

 part of house, if expected to flower well. If 

 the house is not kept above 50"^ at night, little 

 beauty must be expected from these plants. 



With careful watering and a regular heat these 

 plants are easily grown, and will be free from 

 insects ; but if the heat is irregular and in- 

 fested plants are near, nothing becomes more 

 dirty ; but if 'grown in a very high tempera- 

 ture, the flower lasts but a short time after 

 being cut. This also applies to many other 

 winter flowers and foliage when cut. 



Orchids, — We have received so many in- 

 quiries about this interesting class of plants, 

 which it takes too much time to answer sepa- 

 rately, that we considered a few general hints 

 would be acceptable to our readers, without 

 devoting a long paragraph to an individual 

 species. Dcndrobrums will have completed 

 their growth for the season, and must be placed 

 in the full sun and kept dry, but not allowed 

 to shrivel, or the flower will be small. The 

 principal thing is to get a good, strong growth, 

 and to well ripen it, when the plants will be 

 sure to flower. Cattlegas will have finished 

 growing, except the Trianae varieties, which 

 flower during the winter from the young 

 growth. These all require plenty of light, and 

 to be kept moderately dry ; but in this climate 

 few species require to be kept so dry as in 

 England, especially when grown on blocks. 

 Oncidium, Cavendishii, and Ornithorhyncum 

 will now be in flower, and must be placed in 

 shade from bright sun, or the flowers will soon 

 fade. The crinitum varieties of Zygopetalon 

 will be in flower, and must be watered when 

 required. These are fine and easily grown, 

 and the flowers last a long time in full beauty. 



Cupripediuni Insigne is one of the best 

 winter flowering plants we have, and requires 

 no special treatment. It will grow and flower 

 well in any gi*eenhouse. We usually grow 

 our plants in the Camellia house, and remove 

 them to a house a trifle warmer about this 

 time. The flowers of this species will last for 

 three months in a greenhouse or sitting-room. 

 These plants must never get very dry, although 

 in a cool house at this season they do not re- 

 quire watering often. Most of the other 

 species of Cypripedium require a little more 

 heat than the above, and are chiefly summer 

 bloomers, except Roezli which in strong plants 

 will flower all the year. 



