104: THE ROSE. 



be one exposed to sweeping winds or strong 

 draughts of air. The pots may be plunged in a bed 

 of coal-ashes, or any similar material, about four 

 inches in depth. The plants should be syringed 

 once a day to keep them healthy ; if the surface of 

 tlie soil becomes green carefully remove it and 

 fill up with fresh soil. When the pots are filled 

 with roots we give the final shift for the season, 

 using eight, nine, or ten-inch pots according to 

 the size and strength of the plant. If it is de- 

 sired to grow the plants on benches, out of pots, 

 this last shift is not used. For this purpose the 

 side benches should not exceed three feet six 

 inches in width, and next the front should be 

 twelve or fourteen inches from the glass. The 

 benches must be so made as to hold five or six 

 inches of soil, and the bottom boards laid one- 

 half inch apart, so as to secure good drainage ; 

 over the cracks are placed thin sods, the grass side 

 downward ; these prevent the soil from being 

 washed away by watering. The first bench be- 

 ing nearer the glass than the others should be 

 used for the more delicate growing kinds, like 

 Niphetos, etc. If the house be not pitched too 

 high, the middle bench can be made level, like 



