ON GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 705 



Use when slightly warm, and continually stir so as to keep it 

 well mixed. The quantities vary, however, according to whether 

 the plant is strong and hard-wooded, with smooth leaves, or is 

 tender, with rough, hairy leaves. In any case, whatever 

 insecticide is used, dipping is best for small plants, excepting in 

 the case of Scale. First place the right hand over the top of 

 the pot, having the stem between the middle fingers, then 

 keeping the hand so, turn upside down and dip in solution 

 (which should be in a wide-mouthed pail) until the plant is 

 immersed almost as far as the soil in the pot ; keep the plants 

 in the solution fQr one or two minutes, and then place them 

 on their sides for an hour, after which syringe with clean water, 

 and replace. It is very important that none of the solution 

 should be allowed to soak into the soil. Scale must be rubbed 

 off with a sponge soaked in the insecticide. 



There are many other pests than those named above which 

 do damage, but there is not room in the present chapter to give 

 a detailed account of them all. For fuller particulars, the reader 

 is referred to the Chapter " On Pests Generally." 



Fungi also do a great deal of damage, amongst the worst 

 being Mildew, and this more especially affects Chrysanthemums, 

 Roses, and Cinerarias. It is mostly induced by damp and cold 

 combined, and seizes on weak, unhealthy plants most readily. 

 When it makes its appearance — generally in late summer and 

 autumn — it is best to give a little heat, and at the same time 

 plenty of ventilation. Syringing with potassium sulphide 

 dissolved in water (ioz. to 2 gallons) is a good remedy; while 

 dusting with dry black sulphur also answers very well. 



The foregoing remarks give a brief idea of the cultivation of 

 greenhouse plants and general management as far as space will 

 permit. We will now proceed to give a selection of the most 

 useful plants for decorative purposes, mentioning special details 

 as to cultivation of the most difficult species. 



Greenhouse plants may be divided into five groups: (1) Soft- 

 wooded, (2) Hard- wooded, (3) Tuberous-rooted and Bulbous 

 Flowering Plants, (4) Foliage Plants, and (5) Ornamental 

 Climbers. 



5oft=wooded Plants. 



• 



Under this head may be classed all plants which have an 

 herbaceous (soft and fleshy) stem and fibrous roots ; they may 

 be either annual, biennial, or perennial, and include many of 

 our most useful greenhouse subjects. They mostly require a rich, 

 light compost of loam, leaf- soil, and silver - sand, with the 

 addition of well-rotted stable manure or dry cow-dung, to be 

 potted moderately firm, and when growing to receive continual 

 shifts, so as not to suffer from want of root-room. They are very 

 quick to suffer from want of water, and are generally easy to 



2 z 



