512 THE GREEN-HOUSE. [OCT. 



before the twentieth or twenty-fifth thereof: indeed in warm soils 

 and situations, most of these would bear the winters of the middle 

 States, in the open ground, if sheltered with mats or straw, &c.* 



Before they are taken in, pick off all decayed leaves, prune any 

 decayed, ill-formed, disorderly, or irregular shoots or branches, and 

 stir the earth a little in the tops of the tubs or pots. Such as ap- 

 pear weakly, should have some of the old earth taken out and the 

 vacancy filled up with fresh compost. 



In placing the plants in the green-house, be particular to arrange 

 them in regular order, the tallest behind, and the others according 

 to their height, in regular gradation down to the lowest in front, be- 

 ing careful to dispose the different sorts in such varied order as that 

 the foliage may effect a striking contrast and variety, by intermixing 

 the broad and narrow leaved, the simple and compound leaved, the 

 light and dark green, the silvery, &c., in order that the whole col- 

 lection may exhibit a conspicuous and agreeable diversity. 



When all are thus arranged give their heads a good watering, 

 which will wash off any dust they have contracted, refresh them con- 

 siderably, and add lustre and beauty to their foliage ; then wash clean 

 and wipe dry all the stage, benches, floor, &c., after which the whole 

 will assume a neat, gay, lively, and becoming appearance. 



The plants now should have as much free air as possible during 

 the continuance of mild weather, for if kept too close the damps 

 occasioned by a copious perspiration would cause many of their leaves 

 to become mouldy and drop off, and, besides, they would be less 

 hardy on the approach of winter ; therefore, on every warm or mild 

 day keep the windows open ; and even on mild dry nights, during 

 the remainder of this month, you may slide down the upper front 

 lights so as to admit a little air at top. But observe to keep the 

 windows close shut in cold weather, frosty nights, and during the 

 continuance of cold rains or fogs. 



It will still be necessary to water the plants frequently but mode- 

 rately, especially the shrubby kinds ; the succulent sorts will not re- 

 quire it so often. 



Pick off, from time to time, all decayed leaves, and keep every 

 part of the house constantly clean and free from filth of any kind. 



The deciduous green-house plants, such as the lagerstroemia indica, 

 punica granata, or double-flowering pomegranate, Croton sebiferum, 

 or tallow-tree, &c., may be placed on ^ platform erected at the back 

 of the stage, as noticed on page 103, or they may be preserved very 

 well during the winter in a dry warm cellar that has windows to ad- 

 mit light, air, &c., as necessity may require. 



PRESERVING GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS IN GARDEN FRAMES. 



There are but few green-house plants of a small size but may be 



* It is much the best plan to keep camellias, during the summer months, 

 inside a well ventilated green-house, as the roots are often rotted by the 

 excessive rains of summer. A free use of the syringe will keep down in- 

 sects. 



