CHAP. XVII VILLA GAEDENING 125 



damp is one of the chief enemies to guard against in their winter 

 management. The usual time for repotting is early in February. 

 All the plants may not require to be repotted ; top-dressing with 

 rich compost may suffice in some cases, and if the pots are large 

 enough for the plants, and the drainage in a healthy condition, re- 

 potting is not required, as food enough can be given by top-dressing 

 or liquid maimre. All pots must be clean, especially inside, and 

 the drainage in the bottom must be perfect to permit of an easy 

 escape of the water, as a water-logged plant soon changes colour 

 and dies. When the plants are in hand either for repotting or top- 

 dressing is a good time for removing any offsets that may be grow- 

 ing out of the sides of the stems. Old-fashioned florists used to 

 take them off by pressing them downwards — in this way all that 

 belonged to them came away at once ; but when a knife is used, 

 a part is left which sometimes decays in the stem and causes 

 injuiy to and destroys the j^lant. The rooted offsets should be 

 potted singly in small pots, adding a little sand to the compost to 

 lighten it. Those which possess no portion of root shoiild be 

 ])lantcd firmly, five or six round the sides of a 5-inch pot, and be 

 ])lunged under a handlight and kept close till rooted. The plants 

 from which the offsets have been taken should be potted deeper, 

 so as to cover the wounded stem with soil and encom-age fresh 

 roots to break away. If, in removing the offsets, holes are made 

 in the main stems, fill them up with powdered charcoal to keep 

 out damp and decay. 



General Treatment. — After potting, and indeed at all times 

 in winter, the watering must be done with care. All this family 

 like moisture and shade, but stagnation causes the leaves to lose 

 colom-, and an unhealthy plant is a difficidt sidoject to deal -with. 

 The frames will require shelter in cold weather, but dm-ing winter, 

 if a fall of snow comes, the plants may be covered up for several 

 weeks without injury. In spring, when the days lengthen, the 

 frame should be turned with its back to the north, as the plants 

 will not endure bright sunshine. In summer the plants may be 

 placed on a coal-ash bed on the north side of a building or high 

 fence, where the rays of the sun in the middle of the day cannot 

 penetrate. At all times when the weather is mild the most perfect 

 ventilation is required, even to the extent on calm days of taking 

 oft" the lights altogether. Light showers in the spring, when growth 

 is proceeding, will be beneficial rather than otherwise. But if 

 water lodges in the hearts of the plants it may do harm if not 

 removed, either by absorption with a small bit of sponge or blow- 

 ing it out ; or the i)lant may be taken in the hand and its position 

 reversed. The green-fly is sometimes troublesome during the grow- 



