PLANTS IN THE PARLOR. 75 



put in heaps, in the shade or under cover, and turned over 

 every five or six weeks during the summer, as it will be 

 wanted in August or September, when the plants are re- 

 potted. 



Compost for Camellias, Pelargoniums, Roses, and most 

 plants may be made of the following ingredients : 



1 part river or sea sand. 



1 " leaf mould. 



1 " well rotted manure from old hot-beds. 



1 " peat. 



2 " turf or a-arden mould. 

 Or, if no leaf mould, 



1 part sand. 



2 " well rotted manure. 



1 " peat. 



2 " turf or garden mould. 



If there is no peat, substitute turf or garden mould. 

 For Cactuses : 



2 parts coarse sand. 



8 " leaf and turf mould. 



1 " peat, and a little broken plaster. 



For Azaleas, Ericas, and most New Holland plants : 



4 parts peat. 



2 " sand. 



1 " garden or turf mould. 

 1 " Teaf do. 



After the plants have done flowering in the spring, 

 and as soon as the frosts are over, the pot should be 

 plunged in the ground in a shady place, and watered 

 sparingly during the summer. The great object during 

 the summer will be to keep the plants at rest, so that they 

 may bloom with greater vigor in the winter. They must 

 not be suflered, however, to dry up, excepting the bulb- 

 ous roots ; these may remain in the shade without Avater, 

 as the moisture would start them prematurely. 



Washing the leaves of Camellias, Oranges, and some 

 other plants, with a soft sponge, gives a healthy look to 

 the plants, and is of great service to them. 



