308 ROOMS OBSERVATIONS. \_May. 



kind collected on the foliage or wood, have it cleaned 

 directly before the heat increases the one, and to get clear 

 of the disagreeable appearance of the other. 



MAY. 



ALL the plants will be able to withstand exposure, in the 

 general state of the seasons, about the tenth of the month. 

 Begin about the first, to take out the hardiest, such as Lau- 

 restinus, Hydrangeas, Hoses, Primroses, Polyanthus, 

 &c., and thus allow the others to stand more free and be- 

 come hardened to exposure. The reason that plants are 

 so often seen brown, stunted, and almost half dead during 

 summer, is from the exposed situation they are placed in, 

 with the direct sun upon them, and too frequently from 

 being so sparingly watered. There are no shrubby plants 

 cultivated in pots that are benefited by full exposure to the 

 hot sun from this period to September. A north-eastern 

 aspect is the best for every plant except Cactus, jlloe, Me- 

 sembryanthemum, and such as go under the name of suc- 

 culents, which may be fully exposed to the sun, but not to 

 long and continued rains. Where there only a few plants, 

 they should be conveniently placed, to allow water from a 

 pot with a rose mouth to be poured frequently over them, 

 which is the best substitute for the syringe. Daphne, 

 Coronilla, Fuchsia, Camellia, Primrose and Polyanthus, 

 do not agree with bright sun through the summer. There 

 has been a general question what is the cause of the death 

 of so many of the Daphne odora. It may be observed, 

 that the first place that shows symptoms of decay is at the 

 surface of the soil, and this takes place a few weeks be- 

 fore there are evident effects of it. The cause is from the 

 effect of heat or sun and water, acting on the stem at least. 

 If the soil is drawn in the form of a cone round the stem, 

 to throw ofF the water to the edges of the pot, that the 

 stem may be dry above the roots, mortification does not take 

 place, neither do they die prematurely when thus treated. 

 For farther remarks, see green-house this month. 



