May.~] HOT-HOUSE OF REPOTTING, &c. 149 



such a mode has been pursued, the plants will have got 

 over their first growth, and the foliage looks yellow and 

 decaying ; thus throwing the plants into a state of inacti- 

 vity, when nature herself commences her most active move- 

 ments. The temperature should not be under 55 in the 

 night, nor much above 75 during the day, without admit- 

 ting a little air by the top lights. It will not do yet to give 

 air by the front sashes, the wind being cool, and a current 

 in the house would be hurtful. The sun is not so power- 

 ful but the heat can be kept down by the air given from 

 above. 



Hot-house or tropical plants will not materially suffer 

 with 100 of sun-heat, provided they are not very near 

 the glass ; but such an extreme would be injurious to prac- 

 tice. 



REPOTTING. 



Where there is a general assortment of the Cacteae tribe, 

 and kept in this department, now is the proper period to 

 give them a general repotting. Of all the tropical floral 

 productions, there is not a family more curious, grotesque, 

 interesting, and beautiful than this ; and, what still more 

 enhances their real value, they are in this country of the 

 easiest culture ; it is with pleasure that we recommend a 

 few of the grand and the novel, which are faithfully de- 

 scribed in the general list given next month. The bottom 

 of every pot must be covered with an inch of pot-shreds, 

 or rough gravel for drainage. 



MAY. 



VERY few directions for this department remain to be 

 given ; except for shifting plants, and a few observations 

 on those that are most desirable for the hot-house; which 

 we will do in this month, considering May and June the 

 best months of the year for that operation. 

 13* 



