MANAGEMENT OF GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS. 101 



more frequently get injured from being soddened with wa- 

 ter, tkan from being kept moderately dry. 



Having before intimated that exotic plants will generally 

 thrive best in a temperature and soil similar to that in which 

 nature first produced them, it may be necessary to remind 

 the reader, that we have the means of obtaining suitable 

 composts from our own soils, and from sand, decayed leaves, 

 rotten dung, and various kinds of peat, bog, and rock mould ; 

 these ingredients being judiciously mixed and prepared, 

 may be suited to all the various kinds of plants, and should 

 be used as occasion requires. 



As the roots of plants make considerable growth m tne 

 course of a summer, it will be necessary to examine them 

 by turning them out of the pots ; this may be done in the 

 latter part of August or early in September, at which time 

 all matted and decayed roots should be pared off, and the 

 plants shifted into larger pots, which being filled with suita- 

 ble compost, and watered, will be ready for removal into the 

 house on the approach of cold nights, which is generally 

 early in October. 



Green-house plants require an annual pruning, and should 

 be occasionally headed down, in order that their size and 

 appearance may be improved ; the best time for doing this 

 is soon after they have done flowering, and while they are 

 in a growing state. 



Having endeavoured to furnish my readers with the arti- 

 ficial means of preserving tender plants in a climate foreign 

 to that in which nature first produced them, I shall call their 

 attention to another class of plants well calculated for the 

 windows of a house. 



I allude to the many beautiful varieties of the Chinese 

 Chrysanthemum; these are frequently cultivated in pots, 

 and may be taken from the ground and put into pots, even 

 when in full flower, without injury, and when the bloom is 

 over, returned to the garden. In the spring following they 

 will throw up an abundance of suckers. 



9* 



