240 THE FLORIST AND 



cure. Just glance at the lights in the house in which you find the- leaves 

 all black and foul — not very transparent, are they ? And here is one reason, 

 no doubt, why the plants are in the state they are. The laps are all filled 

 with a gelatinous vegetable production, which is sure to make its appearance 

 along with damp and dirt. And the outside surface of the glass is covered 

 with all the various matters which, floating about in the atmosphere, are 

 from time to time deposited upon it, And so light is shut out. Light is 

 life ; be that never forgotten. Everybody believes it, and yet hardly anybody 

 acts upon his belief. The glass of the greenhouse is allowed to get dirty, 

 and to continue dirty ; and the plants being shut out from the vivifying and 

 purifying influence of the light, become drooping and diseased. The remedy 

 is at hand — soap and water still, and not in homoepathic doses either. When 

 the plants are housed in autumn, or before they are housed rather, let every 

 bit of glass, whether in the roof or side-lights, and every inch of the building 

 besides, have a thorough out-and-out cleansing ; and if necessary, as it 

 undoubtedly will be, clean the glass again during the winter. It is not the 

 cold that we have to fear. That is easily kept out ; and where one plant 

 perishes from cold, a dozen perish from the damp and dirty and mouldy 

 condition they get in through the want of light. 



But Ave must come down a little, and look at the state of the surface-soil 

 in the pots. Why, that is completely covered with a growth of conferva, 

 and looks a good deal greener than the leaves ; and I should be disposed to 

 say, if a gardener thinks to grow plants this way, he must be greener than 

 either. For how can you see whether a plant requires water or not ? and of 

 all the causes that render winter cultivation of plants a failure, none is 

 more effective than negligent watering. And then how can the air penetrate 

 to the roots ? You have hermetically sealed the soil, and yet you expect 

 the plant to grow. Get all this mass of green scraped off, and throw a little 

 fresh soil on the top : that will be something like ; and the improvement in 

 appearance will be fully equalled by the improvement in reality. 



In fine, it is impossible to say too much about cleanliness in everything 

 that relates to the management of plants. Without it, all effort and expense 

 will be thrown away ; with it, a great deal which is commonly deemed 

 essential may be dispensed with. 



F. W. JOYNES. 



In Turner's Florist. 



