Book II. 



WOODY GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS. 



913 



gentle watering with the finest-rose watering-pot. They may now be set in the most dry airy part of the 

 propagation-house, where they can be regularly attended, as to watering and weeding. 



6624. Watering, Gushing observes, they will require at least once a-day, in a greater or less degree ; 

 for if they are not kept properly raoist, the seeds will not by any means vegetate freely, if at all ; however, 

 the other extreme is to be studiously avoided. The weeds should be regularly pulled out before they 

 attain any size ; else, besides their tops smothering the young seedlings which may have started, the roots, 

 in getting them out afterwards, not only disturb them, but also the remaining seeds that may be perhaps 

 on the point of bursting their embryo. As the spring advances, it will be necessary to lay a few sheets of 

 strong paper over the pots, for two or three hours in the middle of the day, if the weather happens to be 

 clear, and the sun acts forcibly on them; particularly those in which the finer seeds are sown, in order to 

 prevent the surface getting over dry and powder-like; or otherwise, if the mould happens to be pretty 

 moist, it is liable to form a mossy crust, which might be particularly injurious, by preventing the young 

 seedling ushering itself into the light, from penetrating through it with that ease which is requisite. In this 

 manner must they be managed until the beginning or middle of June, at which season the larger kinds of seed 

 may be removed to some shady border, where the pots can be plunged nearly up to the rim in coal-ashes 

 or sand ; which will greatly assist to keep them in a proper moist state : here, all the care they will require 

 is to be kept clear from weeds, and regularly watered, morning and evening, if requisite : but never when 

 the sun shines strong upon them, lest the tender leaves of the young plants should get scorched ; it will 

 be also necessary to have a careful eye daily for slugs, worms, &c. Should there be any fine light-covered 

 seeds, such as heaths, &c. they must be set in such a manner, that they may be covered with a common 

 hot-bed frame, in a moderately exposed situation, so that in case of sudden or heavy showers, which might 

 otherwise wash the seeds out of the pots, they may be occasionally covered to preserve them from such 

 violence ; yet they may be exposed to gentle rains at times, but never long together, lest they become over 

 wet, which would soon perish them in this tender state. They will likewise require to be shaded with a 

 mat in clear weather, or even a double mat, in the very hottest season. 



C625. Potting off. Early in July, many of them will be growing pretty fast, and will require to be 

 potted off' into separate pots; as it is much preferable to do this while they are young and small, before 

 their roots become matted together, than it is afterwards ; besides, that they have a considerable portion 

 of the growing season before them to establish themselves, before the winter stops their career. In per- 

 forming this work, care should be taken to match the pot to the size of the plant, and nature of the species 

 to be potted ; as overpotting these small seedlings might be of the worst consequence. The largest-sized 

 pots for this use, unless the plants are particularly strong, are what are called No. 60s : but^-for heaths, and 

 such like very small articles, a still less size, known by the name of thimble pots, are to be preferred. 

 Being provided with a quantity of these, and the different sorts of mould properly prepared, that may be 

 requisite for the kinds to be done, proceed to part the plants ; in doing which, let the nicest care be taken 

 to preserve as much roots and earth to each plant as can possibly be done without injuring the others : let 

 them be neatly potted in the proper mould, which must be,<?ently pressed to the roots, that they may the 

 sooner incorporate themselves with it. In this manner, pot as many as may be thought sufficient for the 

 present purpose, at the same time allowing a few for mischances. They must then be well watered, in the 

 manner already directed for seedlings, and set in a cool frame, on coal-ashes well rolled, or any other hard 

 substance that will prevent the worms getting so freely into them, as they otherwise would. The light* 

 must be kept constantly on, and closed, for a few days, more or less as circumstances may require ; and it 

 will be also necessary to shade them very secure from the strong rays of the sun at first; however, in a 

 little time, the lights may be taken off at night, if fine, having them on, and shading in the day, until by 

 degrees the plants are so hardened as to be able to withstand the full power of the sun ; thus, in the space 

 of a fortnight or so, they will be fit to be set along with the other plants. This business should not be 

 undertaken later than the middle of August, for if executed at a more advanced season, the plants will 

 not have time to establish themselves ; therefore, any that may remain in the pots, not strong enough to 

 be parted by that period, should be removed into the propagation-house early in September, and there 

 placed in their proper situation in that department until the spring following. Indeed, there are some 

 seeds which absolutely require to be kept for that term before they will vegetate ; whereby it becom.es 

 necessary to examine with care whatever pots have not by that time shown any signs of vegetation, and 

 those which are found alive must be saved, and treated in the same manner as fresh-sown seeds. 



6626. The pots set in the house will require nearly the same treatment as usual, viz. to be kept perfectly 

 clear from weeds, and regularly watered. "Water should now be given in the morning only, as any damp's 

 it may occasion will have time sufficient to evaporate in the course of the ensuing day ; whereas, if given 

 in the evening, it causes a chillness about their tender leaves, and from the necessary closeness of the 

 house at night, not having free exhalation, it may do a material injury, not only to the seedlings them- 

 selves, but likewise to theadjacent plants, by tending to increase the general damp of the house. When first 

 housed, if the weather prove clear, they must be shaded for two or three hours at mid-day ; but this practice 

 must not be followed too closely, as the influence of the sun is but seldom too powerful for them at this 

 season, and during the winter months the more sun they receive the better : it is also necessary to be par- 

 ticular in observing that no slugs, snails, or any other insect, harbor about them. Those seeds received 

 from New South Wales, in general, as well as many others of the South Sea Islands, and also several of 

 the lai-ger sorts from the interior parts of the Cape of Good Hope, from the warmer countries of temperate 

 America, and in short, any of the climes in, or approaching the same latitudes, although the plants when 

 grown will flourish and come to perfection in the green-house, yet the seeds will require the aid of a hot- 

 bed when first sown, to set them in vegetation, and until they are parted and established in their separate 

 pots, then to be hardened by degrees to the open air ; from which time, they may be treated as directed 

 for the more hardy and common sorts of seedlings. {Exotic Gard. 84.) 



6627. JBy cuttings. This mode of propagation may be commenced about the middle 

 or end of January. As young shoots in a growing state generally strike most freely, 

 where these are wanting on particular specimens, the plants may be forced for a few 

 weeks in the stove, or in any of the pits in the reserve flower-garden, to produce them, 

 All the soft-wooded, tender, pithy kinds, such as indigofera, crotolaria, polygala, housto- 

 nia, chironia, &c., as well as some of the more curious gerania3, may require this treat- 

 ment. By the end of February, the heat will have produced shoots of from two to four 

 inches in length, and from that to any time in March, proceed to cut and dress them 

 neatly with a sharp penknife, taking off all the leaves as close to the stem as possible 

 without wounding it, except a few at the top, to be left for the free respiration of the 

 cutting : this observation should be particularly attended to in making cuttings of ever- 

 greens in general, whether hardy or tender : let them be cut off at bottom with a clean 

 horizontal cut, at a joint or bud, and immediately inserted in their proper pots. To have 

 these properly prepared is a very necessary part of the business ; being well drained, 

 they should be rather more than half iilled with the mould or compost best suited to the 

 nature of the plant, and afterwards filled with good loam or sand, whichsoever may be 



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