MAY.] THE GREEN-HOUSE. 393 



the more hardy kinds.: by no means ought they to be continued a 

 day longer in the house, than their preservation from frost and cold 

 severe weather requires, as at this season the young shoots, of many 

 kinds, will be growing freely, and if deprived of the benefit of the 

 open air, they would become weak and sickly. 



Generally, when the plants are first brought out of the green- 

 house, it would be advisable to place them in a warm situation, 

 where the wind can have but little power ; about ten or twelve days 

 after, they will be somewhat hardened to the open air, and may 

 then be removed to the places where they are to remain during the 

 season. 



Every plant as soon as brought out, should be cleared from all de- 

 cayed leaves, dust and foulness of every kind, and the heads of the 

 whole, ought to be watered, all over, by means of a watering pot, or 

 a hand engine ; which, will greatly refresh and cause them to as- 

 sume a lively appearance. 



If not done before, take out the earth from the tops of the pots 

 or tubs, and fill them up with fresh compost ; this will greatly en- 

 courage their flowering and promote a free growth ; and if their 

 stems, Sec. had not been pruned and dressed in the former months, 

 it should now be done. 



It would be very advisable, immediately on bringing out, to place 

 the pots of small growing plants on a stage, and the larger kinds on 

 boards or planks, supported on bricks or pieces of timber, in order 

 to prevent the earth worms from entering at their bottoms ; which, 

 if once admitted, never fail to destroy the texture of the soil, and 

 render it like a honey-comb ; consequently, it cannot long retain 

 moisture, and becomes more pervious than necessary, to wind and 

 weathet, to the great injury of the plants, and trouble of the gar- 

 dener ; for the pots or tubs, so perforated, will require to be watered 

 double as often, as those that are free from earth-worms. 



When pots are plunged in the earth, there ought to be a piece 

 of shingle, board, or slate, placed immediately under the bottom of 

 each, to prevent the roots from working out through the holes 

 into the surrounding earth ; for although their rooting in this way, 

 will cause them to grow more vigorously, it, to many, when taken 

 up, proves very injurious ; therefore to avoid this evil as much as 

 possible, the pots should be turned round, at least, once a week dur- 

 ing the season, to break off the extending fibres that may have 

 pushed through those apertures at bottom. 



The hard-wooded kinds are, generally, not so much injured by 

 this, as those of a more spongy texture ; but it is ultimately, of 

 more injury than service to every plant, and therefore, ought to be 

 avoided as much as possible. 



3E 



