OF HOUSE-PLANTS 



shade afforded by the strips will prevent the 

 concentration of heat. Such a shelter is as 

 airy as any location in the garden-beds, there 

 being no enclosure of sides or ends, and under 

 it plants will flourish admirably, while those 

 outside frequently suffer from excessive and 

 untempered heat. If there are any boys in 

 the family they will no doubt take pleasure 

 in exhibiting their mechanical ability in the 

 construction of a plant-shed for you. Tables 

 can be provided for the plants to stand on, 

 or the pots can be set on the ground. In the 

 latter case, put tw^o or three inches of coal 

 ashes under each pot to prevent worms from 

 entering through the drainage hole. 



Plants intended for next winter's use should 

 receive much of their training now, while 

 they are in a period of active development. 

 Pinch them back to make them bushy, and 

 compact, and symmetrical. Encourage growth 

 but not the production of flowers. Never 

 lose sight of the fact that plants allowed to 

 bloom during the summer can not be 

 expected to give flowers in winter; therefore 

 aim to give such treatment as seems calcu- 

 lated to hold their flowering energies in 

 reserve for the time when bloom will be more 



117 



