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84 ANNUAL REPORT. 
desirable.) The flue should be six inches wide’ at the base_ 
and top, and for the sides place bricks on edge and plaster 
upon the inside, the whole passing round the house with a 
gradual ascent from the furnace to the chimney. pain, et 
To those not having the means to build an éxpensive house, 
a wooden frame building will answer every purpose, if care is 
taken to make it tight and secure from frost; but as a rule 
avoid cheap buildings for a green-house, for they will become 
dear enough in the end. Use only the best materials and 
those of the most durable kinds, as the alterations of tem- 
perature and constant moisture speedily affect the best timber, 
and the poor material will soon be rendered useless by damp- 
ness and decay. ; 
In stocking your house, take first all those well known 
{although — and reliable, as trying to cultivate store and 
green-house plants together will only end in disappointment. 
For shading from the sun use whitewash, in which a hand- 
ful of salt has been mixed, and apply to the roof on the out- 
side. This is durable enough to last all summer. 
SOIL. 
For all plants usually grown in the green-house (especially 
soft wooded plants) use loam, leaf mould and sand, and a little 
rotten manure, well mixed together. Such soil will remain 
loose and porous. 
POTS. 
Use only the common flower pots, as they are more porous, 
and the plants will thrive better in them than in glazed ones, 
of either glass or china, or fancy painted pots. 
POTTING. 
So much has been said and written upon this point about 
drainage that it is hard to determine in every case what is 
best. My experience has been to dispense with potsherds for 
drainage (using the coarse soil only) in all pots less than four 
inches wide. Care should be taken to have the soil pressed 
firmly about the roots by a few sharp raps upon the bench, 
always leaving sufficient room for watering. Care should also 
be used to avoid having plants in too large pots, as the soil 
becomes sour and the plants become sickly by so doing. Al- 
ways protect fresh potted plants from the sun for a short time. 
WATERING PLANTS. 
Watering is one of the most important duties in successful 
