176 VILLA GAKDENIXG part ii 



should never absolutely touch each other ou the stage, and if the 

 house is a lean-to they should be frequently tiu-ned round to keep 

 them well balanced. Ventilate whenever the weather is mild 

 and calm, but never permit cold currents to blow through the 

 house, for if the plants once get a check from this, or indeed any 

 other cause, greeu-tiies will soon make their appearance, and it is 

 only by making a regular steady progress that really superior 

 results can be obtained. Plants that are making active growth 

 all winter, and necessarily so, nmst have a regular temperature of 

 about 45° at night. A large amount of moisture need not be 

 used, as a damp atmosphere would encourage too much leaf-growth. 

 If the house can be opened a little every day to change the air 

 and keep up the circidation, no harm will come from shutting 

 out aU cold wands and draughts, but a benefit will be seciu-ed. 

 About January the plants shoiUd be placed in their blooming pots, 

 as it is better to pot early and gi'ow steadily. 



Watering must be done carefidly, for if too much be given 

 and the soil becomes sodden, the 2)lauts never do much good after- 

 wards, and a disease known as the " spot " can generally be traced, 

 when present in a collection, to sluggish root action induced by 

 over-watering. The size of pot most suitable for one-year plants 

 is 5 inches or 6 inches in diameter. Very nice little blooming 

 plants can be grown in 5-inch or 6-inch pots, as, when the pt)ts are 

 well filled with roots and the flower buds are pushing up, liquid 

 manure can be frequently given. The soil for the last shift may 

 be rather richer, and tlie turf chopped a little coarser, ramming it 

 down with the potting stick. At least an inch of clear space 

 shoidd be left at the top of the pot to hold water, as very liberal 

 supplies will be needed when the plants are in blossom. As the 

 days lengthen and the sun gains power, the syringe may be advan- 

 tageously used on bright days, using it in the morning at first, 

 but afterwards, as the season advances, in the afternoon ; but the 

 leaves must be dry before night, as damp, if it remains long on 

 them, may induce decay. Endeavour to maintain the plants in 

 robust health, and then the gi'een-fly will not give much trouble. 

 It will be advisable to fiunigate occasionally as a preventive, 

 even if flies are not present in large numbers, and especially just 

 before the flowers begin to expand ; if done after the flowers are 

 open, strong doses of Tobacco smoke will make the petals drop 

 prematm-ely. Very little support will be reqiured for plants Avhich 

 have been firmly potted and grown near the glass, but whatever 

 may be necessary should be supplied before the flower buds open. 

 The stakes should be neat, inserted carefidly, and kept well 

 within the foliage, so as not to be conspicuous. If one stake is 



