LITTLE TOWN GREENHOUSE 89 



there is much to learn as to their successful management, 

 and many chapters might be written on them alone, but 

 what I wish to convey about them is that their needs are 

 not constantly in evidence; sunshine and cloud may 

 succeed each other rapidly without doing them harm, 

 and a few hours' neglect in the matter of watering may 

 be viewed with equanimity, for most cactaceous plants 

 will thrive on a very limited water supply; indeed, this is 

 a matter that requires study, for it is far easier to give 

 them too much than it is to refrain at the proper time. 

 Again we will suppose that the greenhouse has a bad 

 aspect, i.e. t does not get a full amount of daylight or sun- 

 light ; the owner will in such a case be wise in devoting his 

 house to ferns and other plants which like shade, making 

 no attempt to grow flowers, except possibly a few 

 imported bulbs for spring effect, or Streptocarpus, or 

 any of the few other flowering plants which do really 

 well in shady houses. 



Injudicious mixing of plants spells failure in the town, 

 and also indeed in the country greenhouse, and must be 

 avoided by all who wish to grow their plants well. As an 

 object lesson, I would advise any owner of a greenhouse 

 who wishes to grow many mixed species of plants in the 

 same house to go first to one of our big town nurseries 

 and note how the plants are distributed in them. It will be 

 found that each house used for growing plants contains but 

 one class of occupant. Probably the most attractive house 

 in the nursery, viz., the "Show" house, will contain 

 quite a mixture of plants, but these are only brought 

 together for show purposes and soon go back again to 

 their proper quarters, for no nurseryman would dream 

 of attempting to grow them all together. Such Show 

 houses are delusive in the extreme to those who do not 

 understand the subject, and fill the mind with envy of 

 the means by which such a display is brought about, 

 but, when one looks at the matter with some knowledge 



