ON CULTIVATING PLANTS IN ROOMS. 153 



of the same temperature as the room in which the plant is placed. 

 The pot should always stand in a pan or feeder, hut water should not 

 he allowed to stand in it, excepting when a plant is pushing forth 

 flower-shoots or stems, at which period many plants, particularly 

 strong growing kinds, are much assisted by having a constant supply 

 of it, not to glut them, but to allow that given to be dried up before a 

 fresh quantity is given. Particular attention should always be paid 

 that no plant be allowed to flag its leaves. In some stages of growth 

 and situation, there will be found plants that will require water to be 

 given them twice in one day, and at other times not oftener than once 

 a-week. The best criterion to know when a plant requires water to 

 be given, is when the soil on the top of the pot appears dry ; then 

 a flooding over is sufficient. 



Filth. — With some kinds of plants the green fly is often found 

 very troublesome. Sprinkle them over with diluted tobacco-water, 

 or the plants infested may be put into a packing-case, and fumi- 

 gated with tobacco-paper; by either application the insects will be 

 effectually destroyed. The tobacco-water, or tobacco-paper, may 

 be procured of the tobacconists at a very trifling cost; one shilling 

 expended in either would serve for twelve months, with a number 

 of plants. It is necessary to keep the plants free from dust, and 

 to pick off decayed leaves ; also frequently stirring the mould on 

 the surface with a blunted stick. They will require washing over 

 their tops once a week, either by means of a syringe or watering- 

 pot. In frosty weather, watering over their tops should be performed 

 in-doors. 



Air and Light. — When the air is not frosty, a free circulation is 

 at all times beneficial. In order to have healthful-looking plants, 

 the branches should not be allowed to touch each other, and should 

 always be kept as near the light as possible, frequently turning the 

 plants, to prevent the heads being deformed, as the natural inclination 

 is to lean towards the light. 



Pruning. — Taking off the point of the main shoot of a woody 

 plant when young, causes it to grow bushy, and to he formed of a 

 handsome shape. Also, when a plant is making shoots for flowering, 

 taking off the points of the most luxuriant shoots, tends to increase 

 the quantity and size of the blossoms. 



Ripening the Buds. — The singularly formed foliage, or shape of 



