232 Gardening Under Glass 



terial which dries up very quickly. Iron grat- 

 ings laid over a bed of cinders or bricks are 

 preferable, as they hold the moisture so much 

 better and make it unnecessary to use the hose 

 so often. A constantly moist atmosphere is con- 

 ducive to the well being of practically all fine 

 foliage plants. The flowering varieties in a 

 number of cases prefer a period of comparative 

 dryness and rest in a cooler house. 



The best potting medium for tropical plants is 

 something that will require a small volume of 

 peat. As a rule a good loam, sharp sand, and 

 well-decayed leaf mould answer well for the ma- 

 jority. Some of the more robust may need some 

 dried cow manure or bone added. 



Marantas, Alocasias, x\ralias, and some other 

 varieties enjoy some lumpy peat or chopped fern 

 fibre added. Nepenthes do best in fern fibre and 

 sphagnum moss. As a rule a rather porous soil 

 is the best. Broken charcoal is an excellent 

 material to add to the soil as it helps to keep it 

 sweet. 



There are few days in the year when the plants 

 in a stove house are not benefited by a hosing. 

 The house had better be closed early in the after- 

 noon in winter. To create a brisk growing at- 

 mosphere, shutting up in sinnmer must be done 

 later in the afternoon. During very warm 



