The Canadian Horticulturist. 25 



in open rooms usually require water once [a day and some demand it twice. 

 Drainage in the pots must always be attended to, as stagnant water at the roots 

 will result in diseased plants and impoverished flowers. 



Gas. — Its use for illuminating is a drawback to plant culture in the same 

 rooms. Plants are better off for being in rooms that are never Hghted much 

 artificially. If the plants can at night be cut off by partitions, or moved to 

 unlighted rooms, it should be done. If not, harm may largely be prevented by 

 covering them with paper covers, while the gas is lighted. 



General Management. — Pay strict attention to airing, give air when oppor- 

 tunity offers ; try to secure a uniform temperature without draught. All the 

 light obtainable at this dark season is needed. Roll up the curtains clear to 

 the top during the day. Give extra protection to plants during severe cold 

 nights. Plants coming direct from the florist's often fail when set in a window 

 at this time of the year, because the tender green house plants is not used to 

 the exposure in the much colder window. Be sure to get plants that are 

 thoroughly hardened, and to warm the rooms where such plants are in the 

 window, sufficiently to carry them over this change in a gradual way. Be sure 

 to give all plants in the window the space they require. Crowding is in no case 

 desirable. For the better protection of plants near the window, in severe cold 

 nights the plants may be taken from the window, placed upon the table in the 

 centre of the room, and covered with paper. 



I have frequently been asked the cause of plants dropping the leaves, when- 

 ever this occurs, we may be sure, the health of the plant is impaired in some 

 way. The plants may have been kept too warm, or too cold, given to much 

 water or not enough of it ; it may have been injured by crowding or with strong 

 stimulants, or allowed to become pot bound. The first thing to be done is 

 to make a thorough examination. Knock the plant out of the pot and see if 

 the soil is too dry or too wet, or whether the feeding roots are destroyed. 



Injudicious watering or applications of strong liquid manure. The treat- 

 ment usually given without further examination may result in the death of the 

 plant. Re- potting in light and rich, rather dry soil, especially if a new or freshly 

 cleaned pot is used, will give relief in mgst cases. The pot need not be larger 

 than to give about an inch of soil around the ball of the roots, putting»it into 

 a half shady place, water enough to settle the soil around the roots, and give no 

 more water until new, vigorous growth commences ; the soil should be kept 

 moist all through but never wet for any length of time. Never use pots of a 

 larger size than is absolutely necessary, and plunging them in cool ashes encour- 

 ages root formation. One may readily enjoy a succession of flowers all winter 

 long, by forcing a few at a time, and replenishing as the bloom fades away. 

 Hardy plants of every description dislike strong heat, preferring a cool moist 

 atmosphere, with plenty of air in mild weather, and free access to the sun's rays. 



For window culture, the plants should be started either in a cool greenhouse 

 or sunny window in the domestic departments, whence they may be removed to 



