AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 473 



added as the cold becomes more severe, covering still thicker, 

 if required, with long stable-manure. Keep these coverings 

 dry from the first by spreading over all, and carefully fasten- 

 ing, a strong canvas or India-rubber sheet that will shed the 

 rain, and with which any ordinary snow can be rolled off as 

 soon as the storm ceases. Open the front of the sashes to give 

 air in mild weather, but keep them closed at all other times, 

 letting in the shaded light occasionally, in bright moderate 

 weather, at midday. As spring approaches, lessen the cov- 

 ering, and gradually increase the air and light given until it 

 is time to take them out for the summer. 



If it is intended to keep and bloom them in the house, they 

 may be placed in a cold bed until the severe frost approaches, 

 and then be transferred to a well-lighted room, without heat, 

 and placed on their stands with castors ; or they may be at 

 once taken to such a room in early fall, leaving it open day 

 and night when the weather is not too severe ; into this room, 

 by means of a drum, or register, or small stove, introduce only 

 just so much warmth as will exclude frost until about mid- 

 winter, then very gradually increase the heat until it rises to 

 about 65 in the day ; let it sink in the night, but not lower 

 than to about 40 at the lowest. If the thermometer goes 

 above 70 ? let in air carefully at the top of your windows. 

 Never permit sudden variations of temperature ; if these oc- 

 cur to any considerable extent, they will prove as injurious as 

 a frost. Remove all decaying leaves, and keep the plants 

 clean by washing them off with tepid water at least once a 

 week if they become dusty : this may be effected by dipping 

 their tops in a tub of water and moving them gently in it, or, 

 if needful, the cleansing may be aided by the careful light use 

 of a soft brush or fine sponge ; or set them one or two at a 

 time in the tub, and shower them with the common rose water- 

 ing-pot, held two or three feet above them, adding to this also, 

 if necessary, the use of the brush or sponge. 



If a room heated by a drum or register is appropriated ex- 

 clusively to them, and they do not become dusty, water may 

 be given moderately upon the surface of the earth in the pots 

 once in three or four days, if it seems to be getting dry ; but 



