THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



165 



or a day or two of the temperature of 40°. We have 

 known the earth in pots of Ericas, Camellias, and 

 Mesembryanthemums, to be frozen for two days tO' 

 gether, and yet the plants live. 



Cleanliness comprises removing mouldiness from 

 the surface of the pots, by scraping it off, picking off 

 all decayed or decaying leaves and flowers before 

 they have time to drop, washing dirt off the leaves 

 with a sponge, and burning tobacco so as to fill the 

 house with its smoke, for destroying the aphides. 

 The paths and shelves should be kept quite clean, 

 but in doing so taking care not to cover the leaves of 

 the plants with dust. 



Where bulbs are grown in a green-house, they 

 must or should be planted in the course of the au- 

 tumn ; and the earlier in October this operation is 

 commenced, the better. There are scarcely any that 

 are not best planted at this time, either of tender or 

 hardy bulbs. The soils have been already mentioned : 

 when planted, the pots may be set in a pit or frame 

 kept well covered at nights to exclude the frost ; and 

 when they begin to grow they should have heat, 

 either by being brought to the green-house, or by 

 having the air of the pit or hot-bed warmed by flues 

 or a lining of dung. 



With some cultivators it is the practice to plant 

 the rocicB and Gladioli in pots, and plunge them in 

 the open garden along with the hardy bulbs in pre- 

 paration for forcing. There they are covered with 

 six or eight inches of old tan, and when they have 



