338 APPENDIX. 



moderate quantities, for most plants. Rain water only should be 

 used, and that of a mild temperature, but not warm. When 

 water is necessary, it should be applied in the morning of a mild 

 sunny day. 



Watering with guano water may be resorted to, to stimulate 

 the plants occasionally; but an over-dose will be injurious, if not 

 destructive. A great spoonful or two to a pail of water will be 

 strong enough ; this may be used twice a week. 



It is useless to expend time upon plants in rooms where the 

 windows face to the north. South, south-east, or south-west 

 exposures are the best ; of course a south window is the very 

 best, as it admits the sun all day. 



Light is more important than great heat; indeed, plants are 

 frequently ruined, for all ornamental purposes, by keeping the room 

 excessively hot. The hot, dry air of most sitting-rooms of the 

 present day is so injurious to the Camellia, as well as some 

 other plants, that it can hardly be made to flower, as the buds 

 will fall off long before the time of flowering. But I have seen 

 as fine blooms of the Camellia in an old-fashioned sitting-room in 

 the country, as I have in the green-house. The room was so cold 

 at night that the thermometer would fall nearly to freezing, with 

 a plenty of air from the old window casements during the day. 

 A good temperature for the Camellia is a range of 40 by night, 

 to 60 during the day. I do not mean to be understood that this 

 should be the highest range in the sun ; but at the back side of 

 the room, in the shade. This temperature will also do for most 

 plants ; some will thrive better with a higher range, but their 

 cultivation should not be attempted in a sitting-room. 



Where there is too much heat, and not well exposed to light, 

 the plants will spindle up, and make feeble, sickly growth, and if 

 they produce flowers, they will be so weak and pale as to excite 

 the pity of the beholder. 



Unless the pots are turned every day, the plants will grow 

 one-sided ; every plant should receive as much light as possible. 



A stand for flowers should have rollers attached to the legs, so 

 that the plants may with the least trouble be turned round to the 



