T20 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



The heat wanted is just enough to keep out the frost, 

 and the best mode of obtaining that heat is by hot water 

 circulating through cast-iron pipes. They should be placed 

 near, but not close, to the walls, and about a foot from the 

 floor. A couple of kerosene lamps suspended from the 

 roof will keep out a considerable amount of frost. 



Compost. Procure from an old pasture where the grass 

 is fine as much turf three or four inches thick as will serve 

 to pot the collection for one year ; have it chopped up into 

 small pieces and lay it up in a heap. The grassy surface 

 and green roots will soon begin to ferment ; let it be turned 

 over every three months in the year, when it will be fit foi 

 use. Unless it is very heavy, or of a close texture, it will nol 

 require any addition. The grand object is to have a soil 

 just rich enough to grow a plant to a certain size, without 

 too much luxuriance of growth, but still of such a stimulating 

 power as to enable a plant to grow three feet high, and as 

 much through, and to produce so many flowers as to 

 completely cover a plant. If, however, the soil should be 

 so poor as to need a supply of manure, then use well-rotted 

 hot-bed manure a year old, and mix the necessary quantity, 

 one-fourth in most cases being amply sufficient. 



Winter Management. Strict attention to giving air on all 

 favourable occasions ; keeping the house as dry as possible ; 

 giving a due supply of water, but no more ; pulling off every 

 decaying leaf, and keeping the surface of the soil frequently 

 stirred, are the main points to be attended to during Winter. 

 A good look-out should be kept for green fly, which must be 

 destroyed by syringing or by fumigation. The temperature 

 of the greenhouse during Winter should never exceed 50, 

 nor fall lower than 40. If kept too warm the plants will 

 draw up weak and spindly ; if too cold, the leaves will turn 

 yellow, or spot, or damp off. 



Training. During Spring attention must be given to 

 tying out the plants. Use but few sticks, and those keep 

 out of sight as much as possible. A good plan is to tie 

 round each pot a piece of strong bass mat, or wire, and when 

 the shoots are long, to bring them down with short pieces of 

 bass tied to the piece which goes round each pot. This 

 does away with the sticks in a great measure, gives a 

 direction to the branches, and opens out the centre. 



