WATEBING. 19 



play, to refresh and keep the fohage clean, and to create a 

 genial moist atmosphere, which is so essential to tropical 

 plants. Care must, however, be taken that the syringe is not 

 used with the sun shining fully upon the house, or the result 

 will be the burning of the leaves, and the disfigurement of the 

 plants for a long time. There are also some few kinds of 

 plants that do not like to have water thrown over their leaves, 

 and the peculiarities of these must be attended to. As the 

 season of growth draws to a close, and the days become 

 shorter and colder, the atmosphere of the stove must be 

 gradually reduced to a drier state, and less water must be 

 given to the plants, both to the roots and overhead. When 

 the wood has become thoroughly ripened, the plants will 

 again become dormant, or so far dormant that no active 

 growth will take place, though some will put forth their 

 flowers, and in this state they will remain through the winter 

 months. The best time of the day for watering plants during 

 the summer season is towards evening, after the houses are 

 ■closed ; but in autumn and winter this operation should 

 always be performed in the morning. 



During the growing season one thing rec[uires particular 

 attention, and that is ventilation, a matter on which sonje 

 general advice has been already given. Fresh air must be 

 admitted in the spring sparingly, and increased as summer 

 advances, when, of course, it may be freely admitted, but 

 always in such a manner that it may become partially warmed 

 before the plants feel its influence. By about the middle of 

 September less air will be required, so that the quantity 

 admitted must be gradually diminished until the end of 

 autumn, when very little indeed will be required, and that 

 which is admitted must be let in so as to become warmed in 

 its progress. 



