THE FLOKAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 131 



from twenty-five to thirty feet in length, and twelve feet in width, 

 should have at least four hot-water pipes round the front and both 

 ends. A platform for plants along the front and one end, a pit in 

 the centre for pines, the path to go entirely round it ; a strong deal 

 shelf fourteen inches in width fixed on the back wall, three feet by 

 three and a half feet from the glass, and a shorter one across each 

 end. These shelves must be strongly supported with iron brackets, 

 as they will have to bear large heavy pots ; and as they will be always 

 exposed to intense sun-heat, they should be made of the very best 

 seasoned timber ; shelves of smaller dimensions should also be put 

 up in front for strawberries, etc., and as these will only be in use for 

 a few months, they should be so fixed as to be easily taken down 

 when not in use. 



Now, suppose a house of this kind is built and finished in the 



month of March or April, the first thing to be done is to plant the 



vines; if it is not convenient to make the border at once, make it 



five or six feet in width, which will be quite sufficient for the first 



year, adding a few feet every season till the border reaches its proper 



width; this plan I consider better in every case than making it all 



at once. The next thing to be done is to get the pit ready for pines, 



and to begin to form a collection of flowering plants : of these the 



following are a few sorts that flower in succession nearly all the year 



round, and are not liable to the attacks of red spider. For the 



winter months procure Euphorbias, Poinsett ia, Plumbago rosea, 



Franciscea, Ixorea coccinea, etc. For early spring, Gloxinias, 



Gesneras, Amaryllises, etc. For spring and summer, Amaryllises, 



Achimenes, Gardenias, etc. With a good assortment of the above a 



constant succession of flowers may be kept up. About the beginning 



or middle of September, plunge a pot of cucumber seeds in the 



bark bed, and when the plants appear cover them with a bell glass, 



to preserve them from woodlice ; as soon as the rough leaf begins 



to appear the plants will be ready to pot off into three or four-inch 



pots; as the plants will most likely be considerably drawn, carefully 



coil the stem round the aides of the pot, just leaving the head above 



the surface of the soil, which should be composed of one half fresh 



loam, and one half very rotten cow dung, or leaf-mould ; plunge the 



pots again into the bark bed, shading the plants from the sun for 



two or three days. In the month of October, as soon as the vines 



an; fit to turn out, the house should be well cleaned and washed in 



every part, and shut up closely, as little or no air will now be wanted. 



The cucumber plants will now be ready for their final shift into 



thirteen or fifteen-inch pots. The pots being well drained, fill in with 



lumps of turfy light soil and very rotten manure, shaking a little 



finer soil amongst the lumps to make all firm ; place the plant deep 



in the pot, as every part of the stem buried will emit roots into the 



soil; when all is finished place the pots on the back shelf in the 



middle of each light to catch the full sun as much as possible ; water 



gently at first, increasing the supply as the plants acquire strength, 



ami never neglect syringing every morning and evening; in training 



fchey may be brought forward on to wires stretched across the rafters : 



my favourite plan is simply to tie them to a single stick, and when 



May. 



