JAN.] AND CONSERVATORY. 555 



month, when directions for that operation will be 

 given. 



Of screening the Plants in bad weather. 

 If the weather be severe, be attentive to draw the 

 side-curtains at night, (see Section III.) lest the 

 plants in the border behind the parapet be affected 

 by frost ; but let them be undrawn betimes in the 

 morning, for the free admission of light, which is 

 the more necessary at this dark season. Blinds or 

 curtains, as noticed in Section III. are very useful, 

 and also very safe for plants situated near the up- 

 right glasses, in cases where the flue is removed to 

 a distance from them ; and they may easily be fit- 

 ted to the lights of any house not provided with 

 them. Blinds, however, neatly mounted on rollers, 

 and fixed under the beam, are to be preferred to 

 curtains that draw to one, or to either side, being 

 less liable to shade the plants, when rolled up in 

 the day, than the curtains are, when drawn *. 



* The patent window blinds of Mr James Thomson of 

 Edinburgh, are the most complete thing of the kind I know, and. 

 might answer in every respect for the lights of hot-houses. 



