THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



157 



are now surrounded than that of the green-house : 

 and it should have a surface impervious to worms, as, 

 next to over-watering, nothing is more injurious to 

 plants in pots than these vermin. 



If there be no platform with all these requisites, 

 then situations may be chosen in the north or east 

 side of walls or hedges, or a situation may be pre- 

 pared on purpose. This is to be done by surround- 

 ing and intersecting it by wattled hurdles (pannels of 

 wicker-work, generally five or six feet long and four 

 or four and a half feet high), and by levelling the 

 ground, saturating it with, lime-water, then coating it 

 over with slaked lime and gravel, or lime and ashes, 

 or soapers' waste, and lastly rolling these till they 

 form a smooth compact surface. Properly executed, 

 this sort of platform will keep out the worms for one 

 season ; but a paved surface, or setting the plants on 

 bricks, tiles, or boards, is preferable. 



It sometimes happens that there are not unsuitable 

 places for a part of the green-house plants in walks 

 and paved court-yards about the house ; and this is 

 not only a fortunate circumstance for the plants, but 

 adds a peculiar and luxurious charm to the dwelling. 

 Even lining the sides of broad gravel walks with 

 pots of the hardier sorts has a fine effect, and they 

 will pass their summer there very well, and not re- 

 ceive many worms from the well-rolled gravel. 



Formerly it was the practice to plunge the green- 

 house plants, during summer, along the borders of 

 the kitchen- garden, or in front of the shrubbery, and 



