24 HALF-HARDY PLANTS AND GREENHOUSES [CH. 



as much coarse Reigate sand as will keep the whole 

 open. The young plants should be potted firmly, 

 plunged, and kept close in the cold frame, and shaded 

 from bright sunshine. When they have filled the small 

 pots with roots they may be shifted into 5 -inch pots, with 

 good drainage, potted rather deep, and some sand round 

 the neck to prevent damping. Return them to the frame, 

 keeping them plunged, and near the glass, giving plenty 

 of air, and seeing that the flower-buds are nipped off until 

 well on in September. The longer the plants are kept in 

 the cold frame the better, but they should be moved into 

 the greenhouse before frost. While the flowering stems 

 are growing up manure water once or twice a week will 

 give vigour both to leaf and flower. 



Long ago, when the bedding plants were turned out 

 to summer quarters, for the better part of the season the 

 greenhouse used to be absolutely devoid of interest. The 

 tuberous-rooted Begonias have brought about a wonderful 

 revolution, and with as little skill as is required to raise 

 early potatoes bare stages may now be filled with dazzling 

 blooms. These bulbs may be grown from seed as readily 

 as Chinese Primulas or Cinerarias, and they have this 

 advantage over all other flowering plants, that they last 

 year after year, the roots increasing in size like Cyclamens. 



It often happens that from varying circumstances 

 from change of ownership most frequently large green- 

 houses have become disused. Sometimes it becomes a 

 question whether they should not be pulled down. 



