MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. Ill 



to remove which as soon as possible, we "are apt either to turn out the plants 

 before the proper season, when they often suffer so much from premature ex- 

 posure, that we are forced to replenish the beds, or endure their squalid appear- 

 ance during half the season; or to retain the young plants, fifty or sixty to- 

 gether, in the cuttiug-pots, until they are finally turned out. This, no doubt, 

 saves room, the labour of potting, and watering in a great measure ; but it is the 

 practice of the sluggard, and ought to be avoided with all his doings, as the 

 plants invariably thrive better when potted singly, and allowed to establish them- 

 selves in the pots. To avoid these habits, and still retain house-room for more 

 important purposes, select a sheltered spot, fully exposed to the sun, over 

 which erect a temporary framework of rafters to support a roller, with canvas 

 or matting. Cover the bottom of the space enclosed with sand. When the 

 plants have been potted off, the pots filled with roots, and tolerably hardened, 

 let them be taken to this shelter, carefully turned out of the pots, and each plant 

 placed upon a small piece of turf previously placed upon the sand. As the 

 plants are not expected to increase much in size while they remain here, they 

 may be placed rather close together, thereby sheltering each other, and making 

 the most of the space covered. As the plants are placed, let the space between 

 each be filled up with sand, when they will require little attention, save an occa- 

 sional watering, until they are removed to their final destination. Under such 

 a shelter, the hardier sorts, or such as have been propagated in autumn, may be 

 placed as early as the 1st of March ; the puts, and the room in the house that 

 they occupied, to be employed in forwarding others to be treated in the same 

 manner. High or cutting winds, heavy rains, and cold, are to be guarded 

 against, during which the canvas must remain down. 



The mere saving of room is not the only recommendation such a practice pos- 

 sesses. When the plants are taken up with the small piece of turf attached, 

 it will be found that they have formed numerous strong and fleshy spongioles, 

 read)' to seize upon the soil with the greatest avidity. They likewise suffer 

 much when taken from under glass, and exposed to the direct influence of light : 

 placed out so early, the cause is less powerful ; the effect, consequently, less 

 felt ; and what they do suffer in appearance is entirely recovered while they 

 remain where their appearance is not of the smallest consequence. Those who 

 possess propagating-houses, and every convenience to supply the plants required 

 of them, may deem it unnecessary to employ such an auxiliary ; but the number 

 of such is limited indeed, when compared with those who happily take an interest 

 in a garden, and strive to make the most of the means placed at their disposal : 

 to those who have only a greenhouse it is invaluable. Persons so situated would 

 do well to propagate as many as possible in autumn ; retain them in the cutting- 

 pots during the winter, allowing them plenty of air, as the best safeguard against 

 damp, the greatest enemy to plants at such a season; pot them off, and place 

 them under the shelter already recommended in spring. When judiciously 

 managed, it is surprising how many plants may be thus produced, even by a 

 single frame. Annuals intended for planting out in beds, for which purpose 

 there are many sorts well adapted, ought to be sown in autumn, and treated in 

 every respect like cuttings, when they will produce a far finer display than those 

 raised in spring. 



Specimen greenhouse plants, in pots, placed singly or in groups upon the 

 lawn, when properly introduced, produce a fine effect. To prevent plants so 

 placed having their roots injured by the action of the sun upon the pots, they 

 ought to be plunged, or otherwise covered, and proper drainage secured. This 

 is generally effected by a stratum of coal-ashes; but I have often had occasion 

 to plunge plants where the remains of the ashes, turned up in digging, appear 

 unsightly iu the extreme : in these cases I drained the puts containing the 

 plants by placing a small empty pot beneath each, and found the result so satis- 

 tactoiy, that I have adopted this plan wherever plants are plunged, it being free 

 from every objection that applies to ashes. Pots are easier applied and removed, 

 and more effectual, as by them worms are completely excluded. The plunging 

 taking place when the pots required fur drainage would be lying idle, they may 

 be no applied without any sacrifice, 

 r'ulkstone. 



