96 FLOWER-GARDENING. 



about their roots ma} 7 sometimes need a little in the morning 

 but experience shows, that the roots of plants more frequently 

 get injured from being soddened with water, than 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 in the 

 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 suitable com- 

 post, 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 endeavored to furnish my readers with the artificial 

 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, which are frequently cultivated in pots, and 

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

 full bloom, without injury ; and when the bloom is over, 

 returned to the garden. In the spring following they will 

 throw up an abundance of suckers. 



