

K 



MARCH.] ROOMS. 165 



when the apartment was below 36 a little fire heat ap- 

 plied to counteract the cold, keeping the heat above 

 * that degree ; your attention will be rewarded by the 

 healthy appearance of your plants. The weather by 

 this time has generally become milder, so that air may 

 be more freely admitted, especially from ten to three 

 o'clock. Where the leaves are grown to one side, 

 turn the plant with the dark side to the light. They 

 will require a more liberal supply of water, but always 

 avoid keeping them wet. Pick off all decayed leaves, 

 and tie up any straggling shoots ; stir up the earth on 

 the top of the pots, breaking it fine where it is harden- 

 ed by the frequent waterings. This will allow the fresh 

 air to act upon the roots, which is one of the principal 

 assistants in vegetation. For those that require shift- 

 ing or repotting, see Green-house, March; the plants 

 enumerated there equally apply here, if they are in the 

 collection, with this difference, that well kept rooms 

 are about two weeks earlier than the Green-house. 

 After the end of this month, where there is a conveni- 

 ence, plants will do better in windows that look to the 

 east, in which the direct rays of a hot sun are prevent- 

 ed from falling upon them, and the morning sun is more 

 congenial f6r plants in this country than the afternoon 

 sun. Wher4 there is any dust on the leaves of any of 

 them, take a sponge and water, and make the whole 

 clean, likewise divest them of all insects. The green- 

 fly is perhaps on the roses; if there are no conveniences 

 for fumigating, wash them off as previously directed. 

 Where there are only a few plants, these pests could 

 be very easily kept off by examining the plants every 



