THE GEEEN-HOUSE. 



221 



tlie greatest neatness, and that while in the chamber, 

 all decayed or injured parts should be removed, and 

 any dirt or dust carefully wiped off with a moistened 

 sponge. When the plants are taken back to the 

 green-house, a little extra heat and moisture will in 

 general recover them. 



Plants at routs require little management while 

 there, but must be tastefully arranged individually by 

 rods and threads, and well syringed, and also watered 

 at the root. The soil should be covered with moss, 

 and the pot either cleaned and painted in any appro- 

 priate body colour, or chalked, or covered with co- 

 loured paper. An earthen brown with black and 

 gray lines is among the most suitable colours, whether 

 for the temporary painting, chalking, or papering. 

 Where the plants are only to remain one night, they 

 need not be set in saucers, but only on paper or small 

 carpets of the size of the bottom of the pot ; but where 

 they are to decorate the apartments for two or three 

 days in succession, they should be set in saucers on a 

 little gravel, and over the gravel the saucer filled 

 brim-full with moss or fine green turf This looks 

 well, and the space occupied by the gravel admits of 

 giving the plants daily a little water, which greatly 

 refreshes them in this state of trial. 



The arrangement of the plants in the rooms is va- 

 rious, and depends on the kind of rout or entertain- 

 ment. In common cases they are placed in recesses, 

 and on side tables, and near glasses which may re- 

 flect them ; and a few choice specimens are scattered 



