6o The Canadian Horticulturist. 



and they should be sold at prices within the reach of people of moderate 

 'ncomes ; the increased use of them should be regarded as a sign of apprecia- 

 tion of the healthful effects of the free use of fresh vegetables. Forcing-houses 

 for growing vegetables require constant attention, day and night, seven days in 

 a week during the season. A little neglect will convert a valuable crop into a 

 sickening mass of frozen or scorched rubbish ; but for those who love to watch 

 and care for growing plants, there is an indescribable fascination in this work 

 when all nature outside is locked up in snow and ice. 



But there are many difficulties to be met and overcome. In our fickle 

 climate, the maintenance of a suitable temperature and degree of moisture for 

 the proper growth of each class of plants requires constant watchfulness. A 

 sudden fall in the outside temperature of 20° or 30° during the night, or an 

 equally great increase during the day, may work irreparable disaster ; and lesser 

 changes also, if not observed, and needed attention given, will produce harmful 

 effects. The treatment of insect pests and fungous diseases is still but imper- 

 fectly understood by many culturists. The aphis is a very destructive pest in 

 greenhouses and hot-beds. It thrives best in a rather warm temperature, 

 especially if fed upon lettuce and cucumber plants. Smoking with tobacco, 

 frequently but carefully, is a good remedy, and fine tobacco is the best form to 

 use. The various mildews and rots of lettuce and cucumber plants are but 

 little understood pests. For preventives — the surest treatment — begin by 

 cleansing the vacant greenhouse with a strong sulphur smoke. Then provide 

 clean plants, and after setting them, keep them growing vigorously in a conge- 

 nial heat and moisture. Plants thus conditioned are far less liable to suffer 

 from either insects or the fungous diseases than are the stunted, weak or any- 

 wise unhealthy stock. 



The first crop of lettuce or cucumbers grown in a new greenhouse, in fresh 

 soil, is generally the best it ever produces. Succeeding crops are more liable 

 to suffer from insects or diseases. This fact suggests the importance of rotating 

 crops where it is possible to do so, in order to avoid the spores of fungi, which 

 rapidly accumulate in the soil and the surroundings where the same kind of 

 crops are grown in succession. This is difficult to accomplish, but may be 

 worth the cost. — W. D. Phh.brick, before Mass. Hort. Society. 



Clematis Jackmanii and ail others of its type require to be planted in 

 a deep, well-enriched soil, and to be manured freely every season. As they 

 flower on the young, vigorous shoots, they should be trimmed back before 

 growth commences in the spring. In November they should be given a good 

 mulch of coarse, littery manure, and this should be well worked into the soil in 

 the spring. Thus treated, they will commence to bloom in July, and will con- 

 tinue to flower as long as the plants have strength to throw out lateral shoots. — 

 Popular Gardening. 



