THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 357 



ing the escape of heat ; for if on cold stormy nights, or in heavy- 

 falls of snow, it runs through the covering, and trickles down the 

 glass, it is quite certain it cannot do so without abstracting a con- 

 siderable portion of heat in its progress. I think a waterproof and 

 air-tight substantial cloth, supported two inches above the glass, is 

 nearly perfect as can be ; and those who make the experiment will 

 find (though expensive at the first) that in a few years they have 

 avoided the general rule in such matters, viz., that of being " penny 

 wise and pound foolish." Where pits are heated sufficiently by hot 

 water or flues, the expense of covering may be avoided ; but, in all 

 cases of very severe weather, it will be found more advantageous to 

 cover than to use much firing — not because of the expense of the 

 fire, but to avoid the dryness of atmosphere, inevitable where a high 

 internal temperature has to be maintained at the same time that all 

 the moisture contained in the atmosphere is being condensed upon 

 the cold glass. All forcing houses would be best covered in severe 

 weather, especially where it is indispensable to maintain a niga 

 moist temperature ; and where fuel is dear, I think the expense of pro- 

 viding good waterproof covering would soon be covered by the saving 

 in fuel. It may not be out of place to give our great horticultural 

 builders a hint, which, if carried out, would offer considerable facili- 

 ties to gardeners in large establishments, and that is, in making a 

 new garden to have the whole of the sashes of the same size, so that 

 the sashes of a late might be placed over an early Peach house or 

 Vinery, and thus form the best covering that could be had for such a 

 purpose. In the practical management of covering, of course it is 

 important in severe weather that cold pits and frames should be 

 covered up before the glass becomes frozen, and while there is yet 

 some heat in the frame ; in continued frosts such pits are better 

 covered up than exposed in the daytime if the atmosphere is dry, 

 and indeed with the cloth covers sufficient light is admitted for all 

 plants in a state of hybernation for several weeks together, especially 

 if care be taken afterwards not to expose the plants to strong sun- 

 light, until they have been exposed to moderate light for some few 

 days. 



ANGELONIA GBANDIFLOEA. 



SHIS is a really useful plant for summer decoration, pro- 

 ducing spikes of pine-apple scented flowers very freely, 

 and remaining in beauty for months; being also of 

 quick growth and easy culture, useful sized specimens 

 of it may soon be obtained. Cuttings selected of short- 

 jointed, rather firm bits of the young shoots should be put in early 

 'in summer, placing them in a moderate bottom-heat, where, vyith 

 proper care in watering and shading, etc., they will emit roots in a 

 few weeks, and may then be potted singly in small pots. Replace 

 them in a warm, moist situation after potting, and guard them from 

 the direct rays of the sun until they become established in their 



December. 



