220 



THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



and in all other respects not above noticed, treated 

 like tliem. 



The management of plants in chambers can only 

 be understood to apply to the short time in which 

 they are kept there. This time should be as short 

 as possible, if it be intended that the plants should 

 live and thrive afterwards. The only true way to 

 have a fine display on the chamber-stage, is, never to 

 bring the plants there till they are just coming into 

 flower, and to remove them when the flowers first show 

 indications of decay, unless the plant appears to be 

 growing sickly before, which with heaths, geraniums, 

 and camellias, is very often the case. During the 

 time they are kept in the chamber, the surface of the 

 pot should either be covered with fine fresh moss or 

 coarse sand, to lessen the evaporation from the moist 

 earth of the pot, and to prevent the earth fi'om caking 

 with the heat of the chamber : the water which passes 

 through the bottom of the pot into the saucer, should 

 be instantly extracted with a sponge to prevent eva- 

 poration, and none should be spilt on the leaves or 

 tha stage. As much air should be admitted by open- 

 ing the windows, as is consistent with the use of the 

 room, and the stage should, in the day-time at least, 

 be kept as near the windows as possible. It is not 

 essential that the sun should shine on the plants, so as 

 they have abundance of reflected light. It is almost 

 needless to observe, that they should before being 

 brought there be tied up, or otherwise arranged with 



