THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



185 



at which this is done gives them a longer season to 

 establish themselves before being stopped in their 

 growth by winter. 



In potting, be careful to match the pot to the size 

 of the plant, and its rapid or slow growth. The 

 Geranium tribe will require the largest pots ; but 

 these need not exceed the size called sixties, or half- 

 penny pots, and which are only about two inches in 

 diameter; Heaths, Diosmas, and many such small 

 plants, are better potted into thimble pots which are 

 under an inch and a half in diameter. In potting, 

 let the mould be quite dry, and gently press it to the 

 roots wdth the fingers ; then water with the dispenser 

 once or twice till the earth is well settled ; after this 

 set the pots on a cool frame or a pavement, or on a 

 bed of ashes, or other bottom impervious to worms. 

 Keep the lights close on night and day for a few days, 

 opening only to water, and shade during all the time 

 the sun shines brightly on the frame. In a fortnight 

 begin to harden them by degrees, first taking off the 

 lights at night, and shutting them and keeping them 

 shaded during the day; next taking them off the 

 greater part of the day, and lastly entirely; only re- 

 placing them during very heavy rains and storms. 



Tlius treated, some of them, as the Geraniums, 

 may be set along with the green-house plants in Au- 

 gust, and others allowed to remain in the frames till 

 they are removed to the green-house Avith the main 

 stock in September. 



The pots of seeds which have not germinated must 



