ON STOVE PLANTS. 639 



certain modifications are found to be necessary when under 

 artificial treatment. In treating this subject, it is proposed for 

 facility of reference to divide the plants into three classes : 

 (i), Flowering Plants ; (2), Ornamental Foliage Plants ; (3) 

 Climbers, Wall and Pillar Planrs. 



Houses. — First, however, as to the houses best adapted for 

 growing the plants, and the method of furnishing the necessary 

 temperature. Span-roofed houses are found to be the most 

 suitable, as the light obtained inside is more equal and 

 better diffused than in other kinds. A central bed to provide 

 bottom-heat, or a stage of slate or similar material, should be 

 provided; this may be covered with broken Derbyshire spar 

 or shell-gravel on which to stand the pots. This has a very 

 neat and tidy appearance,- and is easily kept moist when 

 necessary by either syringing between the pots or using a rose 

 watering-pot. On each side may be a bed the length of the 

 house, having hot-water pipes covered with cocoanut-fibre in which 

 plants may be plunged that require bottom-heat. A tank running 

 along under the central stage with a flow - and - return pipe 

 running through it, will help to keep up the necessary aerial 

 moisture, and also be a handy source of supply for watering the 

 pots and syringing overhead. It should be borne in mind that 

 as rain-water is the best for both watering and syringing, it will 

 be advisable to make provision for collecting as much of this as 

 -possible; this may be done by enlarging the tank, making it 

 both wider and deeper, and dividing it off from the long narrow 

 and shallow tank. 



For maintaining the proper atmospheric temperature hot-water 

 pipes may be laid under the paths, with iron gratings above to 

 allow the heat to pass readily through ; or they may be arranged 

 up the side walls or under the staging. The side walls of the 

 house about 3ft. above the ground-level should be glazed so as 

 to make the structure as .light as possible, as for several months 

 of the year all the light that it is possible to obtain will be 

 necessary for the proper development of the plants growing 

 inside. 



Where only one house is used as a stove, it should be divided 

 across the middle by a glazed partition. The two divisions 

 , may then (at certain seasons of the year) be kept at slightly 

 different temperatures, and the atmosphere of one may be kept 

 drier to ripen the wood and also to allow that period of rest 

 which is so necessary to a large number of plants. 



Soils and Potting Materials. — Good loam is essential, and 

 this should be the top spit from a pasture, with plenty of fibrous 

 roots in it. It should be stacked for several months before it 

 is required for use in a good-sized heap, with the grassy side 

 downwards. 



