SEPT.] THE GREEN-HOUSE. 499 



In the middle and other states, where frosts do not frequently ap- 

 pear before the middle of October, the plants are to be taken care 

 of as directed in the preceding months ; observing to decrease 

 the usual supply of water, in proportion to the moistness and 

 coldness of the weather, for the administering of it too copiously, 

 when there is not a necessity, wouid be very injurious. And let it 

 be particulay observed, that as soon as the cold nights set in, which 

 may be about the middle of this month, or sooner, the water must be 

 given to the plants in the morning, for if given late in the afternoon, 

 as in the preceding months, the chill occasioned by it and the cold- 

 ness of the nights, would change the colour of the foliage, from a 

 fine green to a yellowish cast, whereby much of their beauty would 

 be lost, as wellasthe plants themselves in some degree injured. 



If any are in want of larger pots or tubs, they may be shifted 

 in the beginning of this month, but on no account defer it later, 

 that the plants may have time to strike some fresh roots before winter. 

 And if, in consequence of a bad state of health, any had been plant- 

 ed in baskets in the borders as recommended in page 419, they 

 must, early in this month, be taken up and re-potted ; observing to 

 take them up carefully, to trim off the wide extended roots, cut the 

 baskets away, and plant them with the entire balls in the pots or 

 tubs destined for their reception ; after which give them water and 

 place them in some shady warm situation, till the time for housing 

 them. 



Any young Green-house plants, raised this or last year from 

 seeds, slips, cuttings, or suckers, and that are growing too close 

 together in pots, Sec. should, if well rooted, be transplanted in the 

 early part of this month into pots, singly, and be immediately 

 watered and placed in the shade for a week or too ; or of such as 

 are very small, two, three, or more, may be planted in a pot, and 

 treated in like manner. But those that have been raised from slips 

 or cuttings and that are not well rooted, and consequently not much 

 advanced in top growth, should be suffered to remain in their pre- 

 sent pots till spring or autumn next. 



Any Green-house plants propagated in the open ground, or in 

 beds during the course of the summer, should be taken up 

 in the first week of this month, with balls of earth, potted and treated 

 as above. 



About the middle of this month you should plant your Ixias, 

 Walchendorfias, Oxalises, Gladioluses, Watsonias, Cyanellas, 

 Babianas, Tritonias, Massonias, Melasphzcrulas, Antholizas, Mo- 

 reas, Lapeyrousias, Lachenalias, Melanthiums, Geissorhizas, with 

 all the other different kinds of the more tender bulbs, either obtain- 

 ed from the Cape of Good Hope, or elsewhere ; especially such of 

 them as shew the least disposition to produce fibres from the roots; 

 for if kept out of the ground much longer, after this appearance, 

 they would be greatly injured thereby. 



The proper compost for the generality of the above kinds, is one 

 half rich fresh loam, one half bog earth, or earth of rotten leaves, and 

 a small portion of drift or river sand. 



They are to be planted in pots, from one to five roots in each, 

 a greater number if very small, and covered aboutan inch deep j the 



