66 APPENDIX. 



fittest. In the winter many will have died down, till 

 hardly discernible, except to a practised eye. A fresh 

 addition of peat, or leaf mould, seems to be the only 

 manure yet recommended. The more delicate sorts 

 may, perhaps, be well covered in from the frost by 

 straw or heaps of leaves. 



For in-doors. 



In constructing your case, it were advisable to add 

 a false gridiron bottom, an inch or two above the 

 outer one, for drainage sake, having a fountain below. 

 On this lay a net-work of horse-hair, or the like, to 

 prevent any earth from stopping up or sinking through 

 the interstices of the former. On this place an inch 

 of ciuders, and then your compound of peat-earth 

 and silver-sand, raising it just above the rim of the 

 side : this should also be generally interspersed with 

 pieces of rough, porous stone, to some of which the 

 plants should be attached. It should never be damp, 

 or the plants will decay with mildew and perish 

 (though in a very hot room this is of less conse- 

 quence) ; a very slight moisture is all that is required ; 

 just enough, in fact, to create a little condensation on 

 the cover above (which should be on hinges, and fitting 

 into a groove). Should this be wanting, a slight sprink- 

 ling with soft water should be resorted to, lukewarm 

 of course in winter ; where too great, the glass should 

 be wiped dry every morning. This glass must be 

 kept clear and bright, the occasional admission of air 

 during the operation of cleaning it being beneficial 

 rather than the reverse, provided a pretty equable 

 temperature be preserved between the outward and 

 inward atmosphere. The soil before being used should 

 be carefully sifted, to prevent any worms or insect- 

 eggs being admitted with it. Any appearance of 

 blight may be cured by the application of lime-water. 



