170 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



15 or 20 degrees higher during the day. The best aspect 

 for growing plants from October to April is due south. 

 For the intermediate season, east is preferable. Watering 

 is a very important operation, but a little experience with 

 plants, and ordinary care in observing, will soon show 

 when this is required. A good deal depends on the condi- 

 tion of the plant ; if in vigorous growth there is but little 

 danger of giving it too much. On the other hand, if the 

 plant has been cut back or lost its leaves, water should be 

 given sparingly. For example, you may take a vigorous 

 growing apple or pear tree, and saw off its limbs to the 

 trunk in midsummer ; if its roots are kept saturated with 

 moisture it will die, but if kept dry it will shortly again 

 develop branches and' leaves. This example teaches us a 

 lesson in more artificial culture, that in proportion to the 

 vigor of the subject should its food be supplied. The 

 practice of placing the pots in saucers filled with water 

 is destructive to the health of the plants, as, of course, 

 as long as the water remains in the saucers the soil 

 is absorbing it and the roots of the plant are saturated; 

 it is well enough to use the saucers to prevent the soil 

 from washing through, but the water should be applied 

 at the surface of the pot, and what little will pass through 

 into the saucer will do no harm. Another source of an- 

 noyance to those growing plants in rooms is the various in- 

 sects that attack them. The most common and inju- 

 rious of these is the Aphis or Green Fly. In our green- 

 houses we keep this little pest in check by continued 

 fumigation with tobacco, but as this would not be practi- 

 cable in rooms, recourse must be had to immersing the 

 plant in tobacco water, made to a strength having about the 

 color of strong tea. By dipping the plant in this once in 

 two weeks, or, when the plants are large, syringing them 

 with it, they will never be seen. The Red Spider and 

 thrip are not so easily got rid of, but fortunately they are 

 not so common or injurious, unless in a very high temper- 



