ON GROWING PLANTS IN HOUSES. 287 



to sustain the life of the plant. This is, however, by no means so 

 common a practice as that of giving too much ; for in general, if 

 anj'thing appears to be the matter with the plants, large doses of 

 water are immediately resorted to, and if recovery is not speedy, 

 it is again administered, with but little'doubt of its infallible resto- 

 rative powers: but such persons like an unskilful physician, who 

 gluts the weakly stomach of his patient, only hasten what they are 

 trying to prevent. This overplus of water, will show its bad effects 

 by a very dark colour, and if the plant receives too little, the 

 leaves will turn yellow, and eventually die. 



The best plan is, to always allow the soil in the pot to have the 

 appearance of dryness, (but never sufficient to make the plant 

 flag), before a supply of water is given, which should then be pretty 

 copious, but always empty it out of the pan or feeder in which 

 the pot stands, as soon as the soil is properly drained. The wa- 

 ter used for the purpose, ought always to be made about the same 

 temperature as the room in which the plants grow, never use it 

 fresh from the pump, but either let it stand to warm all night, or 

 take off the chill by adding a little warm water to it, or the growth 

 of the plants will be much checked. 



Filthiness collected on the leaves, may either arise from in- 

 sects or dust, the former may be speedily remedied, by placing 

 the plants under a hand glass, or any thing that is convenient, 

 and burning some tobacco till they are well enveloped in the 

 smoke; and the latter may be removed, by occasionally washing 

 them on the head with pure water, either by means of a syringe, 

 the rose of a watering pan, or with a sponge if the dirt still ad- 

 heres. 



By being potted in unsuitable soil is by far the most difficult 

 part of the business to rectify, for no certain line can be drawn 

 unless each genus was treated on separately ; however, as this 

 cannot be done in a paper like the present, a few general remarks 

 which, perhaps, with some little exceptions, may be found to be 

 pretty correct, will suffice. 



All plants whose brunches arc fragile or slender, and roots of 

 fine thready, fibrous texture with general habits like the Ericee, 

 as Diosma, Andersonia, and Epacris, will require the same soil 

 (peat earth) and very similar treatment to Cape heaths. 



Those whose wood and general habits partially differ, and 

 whose roots are of a stronger texture, as Acacia, Ardisia, Steno- 

 carpus, Tetrathica, Tristanea, &c. will require a portion of sandy 



