THE PLEASURE GROUND, 250 



beneficial to the plants, particularly in the Winter 

 season, when this element cannot be admitted in 

 such large portions as would otherwise be desirable, 

 owing to the cold and changeable state of the at- 

 mosphere. The plants should be also frequently 

 looked over, and divested of all the decayed leaves 

 and shoots that may appear, and the surface of the 

 mould, in their pots, stirred up, and kept free from 

 moss or weeds, which would soon accumulate. Many 

 of the plants will require a little fresh soil added to 

 the surface of what they are already growing in, 

 which should be as near to the quality of that they 

 were previously potted with as can be procured. 

 By the end of February many of the plants will be 

 beginning to grow ; these should, therefore, be ex- 

 amined ; and such as appear to require fresh potting, 

 should now be shifted into fresh loam, and into such 

 sized pots as the size and strength of the plants 

 may require. In most establishments, it is desirable 

 to keep the plants in small pots, so that they may not 

 occupy too great a space on the stage ; the potting 

 should, therefore, be regulated according to the size 

 of plants wished for, and such pots be used as appear 

 consistent with their health and flowering. As all the 

 species do not begin to grow at the same time, they 

 should be carefully examined, and shifted into fresh 

 loam as they appear to require it. Some of the 

 rapidly growing kinds will want to be shifted oftener 

 than those of less luxuriant habits ; they should, 

 therefore, be treated accordingly : but keeping in 

 view the size, or space, the plants are wished to 

 occupy, as, if encouraged by frequent additions of 



