202 THE FLOEAL WOULD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



attended to during the winter season are, giving a proper supply 

 of water at the root, and admitting air at every favourable oppor- 

 tunity, avoiding exposing the plants to cold wind, and keeping them 

 near the glass. Towards the middle of March encourage growth by 

 keeping the plants rather close ; but the night temperature should 

 not exceed 40° or 45°, and air should be admitted by day whenever 

 the state of the weather will admit, and the plants must be kept near 

 the glass. Before inducing growth, any straggling shoot should be 

 cut back, and the branches neatly tied out, keeping them well down 

 towards the pot, and rather thin, so as to admit light and air, and 

 induce them to break closely and strongly. 



The state of the roots should also be seen to, giving more pot- 

 room to such as require it ; but it will be safer to defer shifting 

 until growth has fairly commenced, unless in the case of such as are 

 found to be much pot-bound. The atmosphere should be kept moist, 

 giving the plants a gentle syringing on the afternoons of fine days, 

 and shutting up early, so as to avoid having to use fire-heat, which is 

 apt to render the atmosphere too dry for these plants. 



As soon as the buds are started into growth, will be the proper 

 time for repotting, and this should be attended to before the plants 

 sutler through the want of pot-room. See to having the ball and 

 soil iu a proper state as to moisture at the time of repotting, and 

 make the new soil rather firm about the ball. Very little water will 

 be required for some time after potting, if the atmosphere is kept 

 rather close and thoroughly moist, and no more should be given than 

 may be wanted ; for over- watering directly after potting is very apt 

 to saturate the fresh soil, which, in a case of delicate-rooted plants, 

 is most injurious. Whenever the weather becomes sufficiently mild 

 to allow of managing the plants in a cold frame without exposing 

 them to a lower temperature, this will be the best situation for them, 

 as the atmosphere, etc., will be more under control. The treatment 

 here during the summer will consist in giving free admission to 

 air on all fine days, a proper supply of water to the soil, and 

 a slight shade from the direct rays of the mid-day sun. Any 

 shoots that incline to out-grow the others, or to become straggling, 

 should be pinched back, in order to maintain a close bushy habit ; 

 and when the nights become warm the lights may be thrown off the 

 last thing in the evening, so as to expose the plants to the dew, 

 which will greatly assist in keeping the wood strong ; but the glass 

 should be kept on while the air inclines to coldness, or during the 

 prevalence of drying winds, and the plants should be moistened 

 overhead in the afternoon, and shut down close for the evening. 

 Vigorous-growing specimens will probably require a second shift 

 early in summer, and this should be attended to whenever it is 

 necessary, and every means used to maintain vigorous growth. 

 Use the shading very sparingly towards autumn, and discontinue 

 the use of the syringe whenever the weather becomes damp aud 

 cloudy, and expose the plants freely to air, in order to ripen the 

 wood before winter. A light, airy situation near the glass in the 

 greenhouse should be afforded them in winter, and they should be 

 removed to this place whenever damp, cloudy weather sets in. 



