THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



161 



should be gone over a week or ten days before it is 

 intended to take them in, and all the roots which 

 have grown through the draining-hole cut off close to 

 it. Where many roots have protruded, this will give 

 the plant a check, which is better received here than 

 in the green-house ; because the cool surface on which 

 they stand will not dry up the roots like the dry boards 

 of the stage. Plants which have been plunged 

 should have their pots lifted up with a twist, which 

 will break any roots that may have gone through into 

 the soil, and then they can be cut off smoothly with a 

 knife, and the pot replaced in its hole. Sometimes 

 the pot breaks in this operation, in which case the 

 plant must be carefully repotted. 



The plants being thus prepared, the next thing is 

 to attend to the green-house. Any repairs which 

 may have been wanted will have been effected either 

 immediately after the plants were removed, or in the 

 course of the summer. Painting the wood-work, 

 and white-washing the walls and flues, is generally 

 done once in two or three years ; broken glass is im- 

 mediately mended ; and the flues are swept once a 

 year at least, and generally at this time. After 

 cleaning them, they may be proved with a fire of 

 damp straw, to ascertain if there are any cracks that 

 will admit smoke. 



Things being now ready, commence by bringing 

 in the more tender sorts, and placing them in their 

 situations. If the weather be still mild, they may re- 

 main there three or four days with the roof sashes and 



M 



