January.'] rooms — of bulbous roots, etc. 291 



Take a tub of soft water (if the day is frosty it had better 

 be done iu the house), invert the phmt, holding the hand, 

 or tying a piece of cloth, or anything of the kind, over the 

 soil in the pot, put all the branches in the water, keeping 

 the pot in the hand, drawing it to and fro a few times; take 

 it out and shake it. If any insects remain, take a small 

 fine brush, and brush them off, giving another dip, which 

 will clean them for the present. As soon as they appear 

 again, repeat the process — for nothing that we have found 

 out, or heard of, can totally extirpate them. 



OF BULBOUS ROOTS IN GENERAL. 



If you have retained any of the Cape hnlhs from the last 

 planting, let them be put in in the early part of the month. 

 For method, see September. Those that are growing must 

 be kept very near the light, that is, close to the window, or 

 thej^will not flourish to your satisfaction. The fall-flowering 

 oxalis may be kept on the stage, or any other place, to give 

 room to those that are to flower. 



Hyacinth!^, Jonquils, Narcissus, Tulips, &c., will keep 

 very well in a room where fire heat is constantly kept, pro- 

 vided that they are close to the window. A succession of 

 these, as before observed, may beautify the drawing-room 

 from February to April, by having a reserved stock, in a cold 

 situation, and taking a few of them every week into the 

 warmest apartment. 



Wherever any of the bulbs are growing, and in the inte- 

 rior of the room, remove them close to the light, observing 

 to turn the pots or glasses frequently to prevent them from 

 growing to one side, and giving them support as soon as the 

 stems droop, or the head becomes pendent. The saucers 

 under the Hyacinth and Narcissus may stand with water, 

 and observe to change the water in the glasses once or twice 

 a-week. 



Every one that has any taste or refinement in their floral 

 undertakings, will delight in seeing the plants in perfection ; 

 to have them so, they must be divested of every leaf that 

 has the appearance of decaying — let this always be attended 

 to. 



