176 GRAFTING IN POTS. 



so quickly, and they are so constantly under ob- 

 servation ; but for this a small forcing-house is of 

 course necessary; a house twelve feet by eight feet, 

 with an eighteen-inch Arnott's stove, will do all 

 that is necessary : and the expense of a structure 

 of these dimensions is very moderate. What can 

 be done in the way of propagation in so small a 

 house with method is quite astonishing. A hotbed 

 frame will give the same results, but the plants 

 cannot be viewed in bad weather with equal 

 facility; that interest attached to watching closely 

 every shoot as it pushes forth to bud and bloom 

 in all its gay attire, is lost. To the mind happily 

 constituted this is a calm and untiring pleasure ; 

 the bud breaking through its brown wintry co- 

 vering into verdant leaves, replete with the deli- 

 cate tints so peculiar to early spring, and un- 

 checked by cold and withering blasts, makes us 

 feel vernal pleasures, even in January ; and then 

 the peeping flower-buds, perhaps of some rare 

 and as yet unseen variety, add to these still 

 calm hopeful pleasures, felt only by those who 

 really love plants and flowers, and all the lovely 

 creations of nature. 



