Treatment of Green-house Plants in Summer. 241 



distance is too little; and, in such cases, the original distance 

 at planting should be wider (say 4 ft., 5 ft., or 6 ft.) ; which, by 

 following out the principle offered, would afford a proportionally 

 large space at the first, intermediate, and final thinnings : a fourth, 

 or even a fifth, thinning, on the same principle, would place the 

 reserves regularly at any required distance. 



To those who may feel inclined to adopt and act upon this 

 system of row planting, the above remarks are submitted : but, 

 from the general tenor of the communication by Mr. Lawrence, 

 I doubt not but that gentleman will agree with me in saying 

 that, when plantations are under skilful and judicious manage- 

 ment, planting regiilarhj irregular possesses many advantages, 

 which cannot be obtained where the fate of every tree in the 

 wood is fixed at the moment of putting it into the ground. 



Annat Gardens, Jan. 16. 1836. 



Art. VI. On the Treahnent of Green-house Plants in the. Summer 

 Season. By An Observer. 



Gardeners generally allow their young men a few days during 

 summer to visit the neighbouring gardens ; and, having lately 

 had a perambulation of a few days, I have been induced to note 

 down the following remarks on what I saw. I have not unfre- 

 quently observed Cape heaths, acacias, and other green-house 

 plants, while out of doors during the summer months, huddled, 

 together close to garden walls, or under the drip of trees, one 

 hanging east, another west by the neck over the pot ; some 

 peeping through Marchantm polymorpha, and some climbing, 

 interwoven one with another: in fact, looking as if they belonged 

 to nobody. Some of your readers may think I am exaggerating ; 

 but I can assure them that what I have stated is a fact. I could 

 mention several places where the green-house plants are treated 

 as above ; but I forbear doing so, lest I should give offence : but 

 I have no doubt many readers have seen it frequently both in 

 England and Scotland. After the plants are removed into the 

 green-house, supposing them to have been treated in the above 

 manner, a great many may be expected to die ; and then who 

 is in fault? Why, the foreman. When he (the foreman) has in- 

 formed his master of a sickly or dead plant, of course he will ex- 

 amine it ; and then he will say, " Why, you have drowned it : " 

 or make some equivalent remark ; though, in all probability, the 

 plant was virtually dead before it was brought into the house, 

 owing to having been so long soaked with heavy rains, without 

 the enjoyment of a free current of air. Now, if the plants were 

 treated in a proper manner while out of doors, many of these 



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