IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



fully tied down and trained beneath the wires on the roof, 

 or they are likely to become a prey to red spider, which 

 delights in dry heat. 



Air is constantly given to the plants by leaving the upper 

 ventilators open ; in fact, we make a rule of keeping at least 

 one of these ajar, even in winter, unless the weather should 

 be severe, for with hot-water pipes in full force night and 

 day it is far better to arrange for the constant escape of the 

 heated air rather than to allow the atmosphere to be stuffy 

 and close ; as the want of fresh air results in weak health, 

 whether it be in the case of human beings or plants, and 

 both become too sensitive to chills if kept too close. On 

 the walls there is a mass or heliotrope, which is rarely 

 entirely without bloom, with tacsonias, passifloras, Jas- 

 minums gracilis and grandiflorum, Asparagus plumosus, and 

 the lovely blue plumbago (as well as roses) under the roof. 



All need to be trained and kept down from the glass, for 

 their flowers naturally seek the sunshine. Passifloras are apt 

 to become too luxuriant when well established, and it is a good 

 plan to cut out the weaker growths occasionally to let light 

 and air into the rest, and so to ripen them thoroughly. 

 Many of these plants bloom best upon the points of their 

 long hanging trails ; they should not, therefore, be pruned 

 back in the usual way, but only have their shoots thinned 

 out, and these are very beautiful for decorative purposes, 

 whether arranged on the table or allowed to hang from a 

 wall basket. 



Blights of any kind should be dealt with directly they 

 appear ; a few insects are not difficult to eradicate, whether 

 by means of the vaporiser or by sponging ; but if allowed 

 to propagate themselves they will soon gain a firm hold and 

 do serious harm to the plants. Liliums, such as the Ber- 

 muda lily (L. Harrisi) and the Nilgiri lily (L. neilgherrense), 

 which are too delicate to be grown in the open air, need 

 much care as they grow, for it seems to be the special object 

 of the green-fly to penetrate beneath the small leaves which 

 cover the embryo buds before these are visible, and if 

 allowed to creep in amongst them the result will be mal- 



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