OBC 



[ 030 ]. 



OEC 



Shading. We use a kind of canvass 

 called " bunting." It is thin and open 

 in the mesh, yet just close enough to 

 prevent the rays of the sun striking 

 through the glass, and injuring the 

 flowers and leaves. We shall try to 

 describe how it is applied. First, a 

 pole about Jtwo inches in diameter, of 

 the length of the house, or rather 

 longer, is made of deal, and quite 

 round. At one end a kind of wheel 

 is fixed, of larger diameter than the 

 pole (about one -third). On each side 

 of this wheel a round board is nailed, 

 projecting beyond it about three inches. 

 These boards are about three-quarters 

 of an inch thick, and are bevelled off 

 from the inside. When this is done, it 

 forms a groove. This is intended to 

 receive the cord, it being nailed to the 

 wheel. The canvass is then nailed to 

 the long pole, it having first been sown 

 together of the size of the house. The 

 pole, with the canvass attached to it, is 

 then laid upon the house, a flat piece 

 of wood 2-| inches wide, and a quarter- 

 of-an-inch thick, is nailed to the highest 

 point of the house, and the canvass is 

 tightly stretched and nailed to the flat 

 piece of wood, using some narrow 

 woollen lists stretched along it pre- 

 viously to driving in the tacks. This 

 prevents, in a great measure, the can- 

 vass from tearing off with the winds. 

 Then taking hold of the cord now 

 wrapped round the wheel and pulling 

 at it, the wheel turns round, and, of 

 course, the pole also; the canvass wraps 

 round it, and, at last, is rolled up at the 

 top; the cord is then fastened to a 

 long kind of button, and there remains 

 till shade is required. The cord is then 

 unfolded, and the pole let gradually 

 down to the bottom, where some pieces 

 of wood stop it from going off the 

 house, or tearing away the canvass 

 from the top. It may be made to last 

 longer, by having weather boards fixed 

 on the top of the house to receive the 

 canvass when rolled up under it, thus 

 sheltering it from the rain, which is 

 the great cause of its decay. Care must 

 be taken when it is rolled up, that it is 

 perfectly dry. During the dark short 

 days of winter, when the sun has not 

 power to injure the plants, the blind 



| may be stored away in some dry shed 

 I or room till the days lengthen, and the 

 [ sunshine becomes dangerous to the 

 well-being of the plants. 



The proper amount of Heat, Moisture, 

 and Air the Plants require at all times of 

 the year. The power of heating should 

 be more than is required in ordinary 

 winters in order to be prepared for 

 those very severe ones that sometimes 

 occur. It is always easy enough to give 

 less heat in moderate weather by having 

 less fire applied under the boiler. The 

 degrees of heat required, we shall now 

 give for all the year. 



FAHRENHEIT. 



Spring ; 75 



i Summer i 85 or ! 



j Autumn i 79 



| Winter | 65 



MEXICAN i 

 HOUSE. 



Spring I 70 



Summer | 75 



Autumn 60 



Winter 55 



65 | 60 



65 j 60 



55 | 50 



50 ! 50 



Our readers will perceive that the 

 lowest temperature at all seasons is in 

 the morning ; that is, before the fires 

 are stirred. The heat in the mornings 

 in summer will depend upon the heat 

 of the atmosphere out of doors ; the 

 rest of the day may be regulated by 

 giving air. The principle of having a 

 j lower temperature during the night is 

 perfectly natural. The variations even 

 in tropical countries in that respect is 

 great. 



Watering ivith the Garden -pot. As a 

 general rule, let it be laid down never 

 to water an orchid except it requires it ; 

 therefore, in commencing to water, 

 observe each plant well, but quickly, 

 and water accordingly. An orchid re- 

 quires watering when it is growing and 

 dry. The quantity to be given depends, 

 again, upon the stage of its growth. 

 If the young shoots and new roots are 

 just beginning only to make their ap- 

 pearance, they require a very mode- 

 rate quantity ; but, as then, the plant 

 ought to be repotted, and the new 



