PLANTS IN HOUSES 79 
PLANTS IN HOUSES 
During the summer these must not be coddled in any 
way ; they require an abundance of air at most times, 
and in summer it will be necessary to have the doors 
open. The afternoon or evening is the best time to do 
the principal watering, although morning waterings will 
be also necessary on hot days. Rain-water is best at all 
times and for all purposes. If hard tap-water alone is 
available, take measures to soften it by exposing it to the 
sun in tanks. Morning and evening sprayings will be 
beneficial, and the pathways and other surfaces should 
be damped frequently during hot weather. On extremely 
hot days, shading by blinds or other means is necessary, 
as may be observed by the distressed and flagging appear- 
ance of unshaded vegetation on such days. 
Stopping the Shoots.—This is a most important item, 
and it is done primarily to induce the formation of a greater 
number of shoots, and a bushy-habited plant. The first 
stopping should take place when the plants have reached 
a height of 6 inches, making sure that the point of the 
shoot is cleanly taken out close to a joint, It will be 
observed that some varieties of the Britannia type, after 
stopping, break freely and produce young shoots right 
down the stem, Other varieties of a less stocky growth, 
such as Enchantress, when stopped, only form three or 
four shoots at the top of the plant, leaving a bare stem 
below. These, if cut down to within 3 inches of the 
soil, break better from the base. Subsequent stoppings 
must take place as soon as the plants have grown to a 
suitable size—that is, about 4 to 6 inches—examining 
