372 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



creased by slips, offsets, or divisions of the roots : at this time they gro'vr 

 quickly after the operation : they must bo well watered. 



1093. Other herbs, as Basil, potted Marjoram, Fennel, Dill, &c,, may be 

 sown on the open ground. They are not generally subject to the attacks of 

 birds, as many other seeds are. 



§ 7.— Flower-Cultuee under Glass. 



1094. Conservatory. — A watchful eye must now be kept on all house plants 

 for insects, or the labours of months, perhaps even years, will be lost. Ply 

 the syringe diligently upon all plants not in actual bloom, to keep away the 

 red spider ; wash off the scale with soft soap, and fumigate for aphis and thrips. 

 Where fumigation is only necessary for a few plants only, perhajis they can be 

 removed to a close room and subjected to that process. 



1095. The occupants of the greenhouse are now being transfeiTed, rendei-ing 

 the conservatory gay and lively. Eoses will be coming forward from the 

 forcing-houses. Camellias, their season of bloom being past, are now in their 

 full growth, and will be benefitted by being shaded from the bright sunshine. 

 An apphcation of weak manvire- water will now be of great use to them if the 

 surface-soil is getting dry, 



1096. The Camellia is, perhaps, the most beautiful flowering shrub which 

 enters the conservatory ; its dark glossy leaves are beyond description mag- 

 nificent when well-grown, and are almost as attractive as the plant in flower. 

 Every year the collections are enriched with some new variety which surpasses 

 its predecessors'; but it is also important to preserve the few old favourites, by 

 inarching them on strong, vigorous plants, bearing inferior sorts, aprocess which 

 is best performed while both are in vigorous growth after flowering. According 

 to Mr. Glenny, a perfect camellia should be round in outline, the petals smooth 

 on the edges, and thick and fii-m in texture ; each row of petals should rise 

 sufficiently above the other to form a globular face ; and, as a consequence, 

 perfect symmetry, uniformity, and order should pervade the plant. In order 

 to secure these points, the plant should be grown bushy and short-jointed, 

 shnibby, and with foliage compact, and close down to the rim of the pot ; the 

 blooms encouraged at the end of the shoots fairly beyond the foliage, which 

 should conceal the stems and present a bright surface of dark green. 



1097. By a little management now, that universal favourite the Lily of the 

 Valley may be retarded in its bloom till June. Keep the pots perfectly dry and 

 in a cool shady place until their natural season is past : by watering they soon 

 come into foliage and flower, welcome in their vestal white among the dazzling 

 and gay-coloured flowers in June. 



1098. Climbers must now be attended to, kept from confusion, and neatly 

 trained, and the house kept thoroughly ventilated and moist. 



1099. Azaleas as they go out of bloom should be attended to, the old flowers 

 and seed-vessels picked off. Should they require re-potting, it should be done 

 when the new growth begins ; the strong shoots of young plants stopped. 



