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the bulk of the plants. When the air is 

 very dry, and the weather very cold, the 

 less air that is given the better. In such 

 circumstances,the heating medium should 

 be cool before the sun strikes upon the 

 house, and then the sun-heat will raise 

 the house the less ; and 10 or 20 for a 

 short time, from sun-heat, is a very differ- 

 ent affair from having that increase from 

 artificial means. For greenhouse plants, 

 generally, in favourable weather, too 

 much air cannot be given, night or day, 

 from the middle of May to the middle of 

 September. For two months preceding 

 May, and subsequent to September, air 

 should be given early in the morning, 

 even if it should be withdrawn or reduced 

 soon afterwards, or early in the afternoon. 

 In winter, unless the air is very mild, it 

 will be time enough to give air by ten 

 o'clock, and shut up between two and 

 three. When the weather is very severe, 

 one hour, or even less, in the middle of 

 the day must be sufficient. In dull, close 

 weather, air should be given, though a 

 brisk fire should be put on during the day 

 on purpose. When, however, the green- 

 house is changed into a vinery, a place 

 for growing tender annuals, &c., the for- 

 warding of the growth of Camellias, Epa- 

 cris, Azaleas, &c., then the temperature 

 in spring and summer must be higher, 

 and the atmosphere closer and moister. 

 By means of divisions, you may have 

 almost as many temperatures and atmo- 

 spheres in one house as you please, by 

 regulating the ventilation of the different 

 compartments. Slight wooden moveable 

 divisions we find extremely useful in pots, 

 as we can then give a peculiar treatment 

 to one or any number of lights at pleasure. 

 Firing. The heat from the furnace 

 merely extends vegetable tissues; that 

 from the sun expands and concentrates 

 them. No stoker should visit his furnace 

 without knowing the temperature of his 

 house, the temperature of the external 

 atmosphere, the direction of the wind, 

 and the changes that have taken place 

 in a certain number of hours, and thence 

 calculate what will be the most likely to 

 happen. The minimum temperature 

 should never be exceeded by fire-heat 

 during the night More than sufficient 

 is not only waste, the plants are drawn 

 and dried, while less advantage can be 

 taken of the glorious light and heat 

 which come from the sun. For dispers- 

 ing damps, &c,, use a brisk little fire 



during the day, and allow it to go out. 

 In very dull, close weather in winter, 

 such a fire often, if even for an hour, 

 would be useful; not for heat, but for 

 enabling us to give more air, and causing 

 a rapid circulation among the plants. 



Watering. The rule is, water so as to 

 reach every fibre of the plant's roots, and 

 then wait until a similar repetition is 

 necessary. A plant may want watering 

 twice a day in summer, and, perhaps, 

 only twice a month in dull weather in 

 winter. From the end of September to 

 the middle of May, let the temperature 

 of the water used be from 5 to 10 higher 

 than the minimum temperature of the 

 house. From the periods mentioned, 

 making, of course, due allowance for 

 peculiar weather, watering should be 

 performed in the morning ; in cold weather 

 not too early. Thus the stimulus of sun- 

 heat, diminished though it be, meets the 

 plants when they have received their re- 

 fresher; the extra moisture is parted 

 with before the evening comes ; and there 

 is not that rapid cooling of the soil by 

 evaporation during the night. In the 

 summer we reverse the time of watering, 

 and perform the operation in the after- 

 noon and evening. Anything that tends 

 to cool the soil and the plant is then re- 

 freshing. By watering in a bright morn- 

 ing, the moisture is exhaled rapidly from 

 the soil, as well as through the foliage of 

 the plant, which does not, in consequence, 

 receive the full benefit of the watering, 

 and, therefore, soon requires a fresh 

 supply. In the evening the evaporating 

 tendencies are approaching the minimum ; 

 the plant has full time to absorb and re- 

 fresh itself, and thus is more able to 

 stand the brunt of the following day. 



Manure Watering. This should be 

 applied often, but weak and clear ; a little 

 quick-lime added will effect the clearing, 

 at the expense of driving off a portion 

 of the ammonia. It is applicable in 

 almost any case where luxuriance of 

 plant is the chief object ; where size of 

 bloom and compact, rather than slender, 

 growth, are the desideratum, it should not 

 be applied until the flower-buds appear. 



Syringing. This is a most valuable 

 mode of applying water, as it promotes 

 cleanliness, and is as necessary for re- 

 moving dust and incrustations from the 

 foliage as soap and water are for cleaning 

 our own skins. In winter it should be 

 done at mid-day, when the sun shines; 



