46 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



mixture should be dusted over the infected parts, and repeated whenever or 

 wherever the enemy shows itself. If persisted in for some time, the mixture 

 rarely fails to effect a perfect cure ; and it has the further good property of acting 

 as a n.ost deadly poison to cockroaches, &c, which have quite disappeared in 

 the collection at Knypersley since this mixture came into frequent use. Besides 

 the above annoyances, the red spider and the brown scale are frequently in- 

 jurious, but never except in cases of gross neglect. 



4th. Give tlie plants a season of rest. 



Without a season of rest, most plants will not flower at all, and others do so 

 very imperfectly. It is eusily accomplished in a variety of ways, either by 

 moving the plants from the warmer to the cooler end of the house; or by di- 

 minishing the quantity of water; or by placing thein in a cooler house. Even 

 exposure in a hot. dry atmosphere, although it scorches their leaves, not unfre- 

 quently throws them into vigorous flower. Plants from the East Indies and from 

 other climates, where the extremes of drought and wet are not felt so severely 

 as in Brazil or Uiudoslan, require a season of rest proporlionably short, and of a 

 less decided character. 



5th. Attend to the condition of the air. 



In winter 60° to 65° is a wholesome temperature fo rmost of the species; in 

 the summer it may rise to 70° or 75°, or even higher if derived from the heat of 

 the sun. Where there are two houses, the warmer one should not be lower than 

 70° even in winter ; but, fortunately, there are comparatively few kinds that 

 insist upon so hot a berth. The air should always be soft, and nearly saturated 

 with moisture. The latter should, however, be prevented from dripping upon the 

 plants, as it condenses ; and this is easily effected by fixing a small copper-pipe, 

 or piece of channelled wood, under each rafter and sash-bar, to catch and carry 

 off' the water. 



Cth. Do not over-water. 



This a beginner is very apt to do, and a grievous fault it is. When plants do 

 not shrivel or flag, it is a sign that they are content with the humidity that the 

 atmosphere of the house supplies. When watering is necessary, it should not be 

 done indiscriminately, but according to the wants of particular plants. It is also 

 of great importance to use raio-water only, which may be collected for the pur- 

 pose in a tank, and which should not he applied of a temperature below 60°. 

 Syringing in moderation may be had recourse to in hot weather. Some of the 

 Sohralias, together with Bromheudia palustris. grow more vigorously if their 

 pots are set in saucers of water during the summer months. 



To the foregoing rides the following advice may be added : — " Do not aim at 

 having too large a collection, but rather strive to grow a few good kinds in the 

 best style." With moderate care and in a moderate-sized house, the whole of 

 the plants enumerated in the suhjoined " Century,'' will thrive apace, and bloom 

 freely — and he whom such a brilliant assemblage fails to satisfy must be an 

 ardent collector indeed. 



Achimf.nes. — During the last summer I had a number of Achimenes longi- 

 folia, grandiflora, hirsuta, and cocci nea plants, grown in baskets similar to 

 Orchideous plants, [and suspended in my greenhouse, and some in my sitting- 

 room. They bloomed very profusely, and hanging gracefully on every side, they 

 had a very interesting and pleasing appearance. Ci.euici s. 



On Charcoal. — 1 have tried the effect of charcoal, mixed with some compost, 

 in which 1 potted some Pelargoniums, and its good effect is very striking. Its 

 open, porous nature renders it peculiarly useful when mixed with rich manures, 

 abounding in ammonia, as it prevents the loss of that volatile substance. By 

 the gradual action of the air it yields certain gaseous matters requisite to plants; 

 and moreover contains all those substances which render wood-ashes valuable as 

 manure. In general, charcoal is too dear to be used as a manure ; but where it 

 can be obtained at a cheap cost, there is little doubt it may be applied with 

 great advantage, and especially in connexion with ammoniacal or strong animal 

 manures. Cikhiois. 



