ON REPOTTING GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 39 



The most eligible situations for this parpose are, the north aspect 

 of vacant walls, or hedges, where they will be a little shaded from the 

 noonday sun, or between rows of close hedges particularly planted, 

 and solely appropriated to this purpose. I can by no means espouse, 

 or recommend the practice, of setting them close under the shade or 

 branches of large trees ; as the plants are thereby inevitably drawn 

 into a weak state in a few weeks, and those who adopt such situations, 

 are not unfrequeutly under the disagreeable necessity of throwing 

 away many, of perhaps their most rare plants, every Autumn ; and 

 even those that remain will have a bad unsightly appearance. Indeed 

 shelter from the winds, is the great desideratum, to prevent their 

 being upset, for in my opinion, most greenhouse plants are fond of 

 the warmth of the sun, except when recently potted, provided their 

 roots are kept moderately moist. Let us look for a moment to tho 

 arid mountains of the Cape, and there we shall find them exposed to 

 its full glare, and perhaps without water for months: their roots how- 

 ever can penetrate deeper there than they can possibly do in pots, so 

 that life is preserved, and as soon as the periodical rains commence, 

 they resume in a very little time their verdure, and, " breathe their 

 balmy fragrance all around." 



Some gardeners' practice is to plunge them amongst the shrubs and 

 flowers of the pleasure ground ; this answers pretty well with the 

 strong growing kinds; such as myrtles, geraniums, coronillas, &c, 

 old plants or supernumeraries that will not be wanted to house in 

 the autumn : and even has a very pretty effect when judiciously 

 done ; but it will by no means do for the tenderer species. Therefore, 

 upon the whole, the most unexceptionable situations, are such as at 

 the same time afford a moderate portion of shade, and are so situated, 

 as to break the force of those strong gales, which frequently blow in 

 the summer, and early autumn months, and yet allow that free circu- 

 lation of air so necessary to the well-being of plants in general, and 

 at all seasons. Having fixed on the place they are to stand, it must 

 be thoroughly cleased from weeds, and the hedges, if any, neatly 

 clipped. It should then be well rolled, to make it perfectly firm and 

 level, over it a layer of good lime, slacked, and made into the con- 

 sistency of thick white wash, should be poured, and allowed to soak into 

 the surface : this I recommend as being a strong preventative against 

 worms getting into the pots ; which is always injurious to the plants. 

 \\ hen this is dry, let about, an inch of finely sifted coal-ashes, be 

 regularly laid on, and firmly rolled a second time. 



Being thus prepared, the plants may be brought out and set regu- 

 larly and level on the surface; in whatever form may best suit the 

 situation, or the fancy of the proprietor, even on this subject a few 

 observations may not be unnecessary. 



Therefore in placing them, it should be endeavoured to give rhem a 

 loose, easy, but yet judicious manner; which is by far more handsome 



