PLANTS IN HOUSES 79 



PLANTS IN HOUSES 



During the summer these must not be coddled in any 

 way ; they require an abundance of air at most times, 

 and in summer it will be necessary to have the doors 

 open. The afternoon or evening is the best time to do 

 the principal watering, although morning waterings will 

 be also necessary on hot days. Rain-water is best at all 

 times and for all purposes. If hard tap-water alone is 

 available, take measures to soften it by exposing it to the 

 sun in tanks. Morning and evening sprayings will be 

 beneficial, and the pathways and other surfaces should 

 be damped frequently during hot weather. On extremely 

 hot days, shading by blinds or other means is necessary, 

 as may be observed by the distressed and flagging appear- 

 ance of unshaded vegetation on such days. 



Stopping the Shoots. This is a most important item, 

 and it is done primarily to induce the formation of a greater 

 number of shoots, and a bushy-habited plant. The first 

 stopping should take place when the plants have reached 

 a height of 6 inches, making sure that the point of the 

 shoot is cleanly taken out close to a joint. It will be 

 observed that some varieties of the Britannia type, after 

 stopping, break freely and produce young shoots right 

 down the stem. Other varieties of a less stocky growth, 

 such as Enchantress, when stopped, only form three or 

 four shoots at the top of the plant, leaving a bare stem 

 below. These, if cut down to within 3 inches of the 

 soil, break better from the base. Subsequent stoppings 

 must take place as soon as the plants have grown to a 

 suitable size that is, about 4 to 6 inches examining 



