GEEENHOUSE FLOWEEING PLANTS. 35 



avoided ; from a six to an eight-inch pot being enough at one 

 time, and possibly for two or three years, all depending upon 

 the progress and health of the plants. Only enough artificial 

 heat should be applied to the house during winter as will keep 

 out frost and dispel damp; and when heat is employed for 

 the latter pu.rpose, it should be applied during the day and in 

 fine weather, with a little air passing through the ventilators. 



Mildew is the great enemy of those plants, and when it 

 appears, it must be immediately attended to. A slight dusting 

 with flowers of sulphur over the affected part is the best 

 antidote, and this should be done in autumn over the whole 

 stock as a preventive. 



As soon as the plants are done flowering, the old flowers 

 must be carefully removed, and the long shoots pruned or 

 trained into position. In training, it is best to "thread " the 

 shoots into their place with fine but strong green thread, 

 thereby lessening the number of stakes, which injure the roots 

 and are very unsightly when used too freely. This threading 

 is the best method for training the shoots of all such exhi- 

 bition plants, because when neatly done it is scarcely noticed, 

 and the thread lasts longer than any other tying material. 



ERIOSTEMOX. 

 A genus of dwarf evergreen shrubby plants, of a free-flower- 

 ing nature and of easy culture. The different species flower 

 at various seasons, and make a beautiful display when well 

 cultivated. Two of the best for exhibition are E. cuspidatum 

 ruhrum and E. pulchellum. They succeed in a cool airy green- 

 house, and thrive best in a compost of peat and loam in equal 

 proportions, with a good dash of silver sand. Like most hard- 

 wooded plants, they must be firmly potted and carefully 

 watered. 



GEXETYLLIS. 

 This is a small genus of beautiful plants, natives of Aus- 

 traKa, which require careful management to grow them suc- 

 cessfully, but are worth some special care, as they make 

 grand exhibition specimens when they are well done. Among 



