100 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



spring, as the weather becomes warm, the plants should gradually 

 be accustomed to the air, by giving it free admission ; and abou 

 the middle of May or the first of June, they may be carried out 

 They should not be placed in full glare of the sun, as shininj 

 full on the pots, its heat will be apt to destroy them, but in th 

 shade of a hedge or wall, where the sun will fall on them morn 

 ing and evening. The pots should never be exposed to the sun 

 it is a good plan to plunge them in the earth up to the brin 

 which serves to keep up a uniform moisture ; or a level bed ma 

 be made in a shady situation, upon which may be poured a covei 

 ing of lime left after whitewashing, and on this, a layer two ( 

 three inches deep, of coal' ashes well packed down, and on thissi 

 the pots. During the summer, they should be watered evei 

 evening, and in very warm, dry weather, in the morning. Whe 

 not in flower, they may be frequently showered from the rose 

 a watering-pot ; but when in bloom, it injures the petals of tl 

 flowers. 



On the approach of cold nights in the fall, the pots should " 

 washed off clean, and where they have not been before changetjl 

 a top-dressing of fresh soil should be added, and then brought in ' 

 the house. But they should not be exposed to any artificial hf 

 till the air of the house is reduced to 40°. Through the day th 

 should have free air, taking care to exclude it early in the aftt 

 noon, if there is danger of a cool night. The great difficulty » .,: 

 keeping plants in good order in a room, is, that they are apt to haji 

 too little light, and very often too much water, and are exposi 

 to ruinous changes of temperature. 



Pots should be well drained by placing a few broken pieces ! 

 earthen over the hole in the bottom. This is necessary not orj 

 to carry off surplus wet, but also prevent the roots from groi 

 ing through. The pans in which pots are set should never ha' 

 water standing in them, except in the case of those plants wh( 

 natural habits require abundance. But if water runs through, 

 must be poured out. Where plants have been frozen, they shoi 

 not be thawed in a warm air, nor the sun suffered to shine uf 

 them. They should be showered with cold water till all the fr 

 is out of the leaves, and then kept in a shady and cool place 

 they have recovered. 



In removing plants from the open ground to pots, for the wint ' 



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