266 GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



riably be weak and spindling, and when removed to the 

 dryer air of the dwelling they will be sure to disap- 

 point one. 



We should also avoid those that have been forced by 

 the florist for the production of flowers, as they have 

 been grown under unnatural conditions, and even though 

 they have been given a period of rest, they are not likely 

 to be satisfactory. 



Much can be told regarding the fitness of a plant 

 for growing in the house, by its structure and general 

 appearance, and, as a rule, plants with thick leaves and 

 a small glossy surface are but little afEected by a dry 

 temperature and can be readily washed, while plants 

 with small thin leaves quickly dry up if neglected in any 

 degree, and particularly if they have a rough hairy sur- 

 face they hold the dust and cannot be readily washed. 



Deciduous plants, particularly those that drop their 

 leaves during the winter, should not be selected, as they 

 will show only bare stems at the very time they should 

 be in the best condition. While all plants should have 

 a period of rest at some time during the year, there are 

 long lists to select from that rest during the summer, and 

 these should always be chosen. 



Unless one is so situated that a minimum tempera- 

 ture of 60 degrees can be secured, the use of the tropical 

 plants that need 65 to 70 degrees is not advisable, as a 

 single cold night may greatly injure them. The selec- 

 tion should also be governed by the outlook, as influenc- 

 ing the amount of sunlight that can be given them. 

 In partial shade, such plants as ferns, primroses, ivies, 

 madeira vines, callas, bulbs, palms, begonias, Ficus 

 repens and F. elastica, mahernia, achyranthes and sim- 

 ilar plants can be grown with fair success, if conditions 

 are favorable. Most of the other winter flowering plants 

 do best if given southerly exposure, where they can have 

 full sunlight. 



