ORNAMENTAL WINTER AND SPRING FLOWERING PLANTS. 101 



him to judge from the physiognomy of the plants what kind of 

 treatment is most likely to be suitable to each individual species. 



While upon this part of my subject, a few words should be said 

 upon atmospheric moisture. This is essential to plants in general , 

 and is abundantly supplied to them in their natural state. If the 

 structures in which the plants are grown are heated by fermenting 

 material, the evaporation arising therefrom is generally sufficient ; 

 and notwithstanding the preference we give to hot water as a 

 heating medium, especially in winter, on account of the facility 

 it affords of preventing too damp an atmosphere, and the general 

 cleanliness and economy connected with it, we always find quick- 

 growing plants thrive much better when exposed to the gaseous 

 exhalation from leaves and dung in a fermenting state. When 

 this cannot with propriety be introduced, the deficiency as re- 

 gards moisture must be supplied by means of evaporating troughs, 

 accompanied by gentle syringings in fine weather. 



Heat. — This is an agent which must be used with great care, 

 giving enough to ensure healthy growth, but avoiding any ex- 

 cess which will produce a weak, elongated shoot. Mild bottom 

 heat is a great aid to plants, when the means exist of applying 

 it, as the roots are thereby kept in advance of the tops ; the 

 temperature of the soil should never be more than ten degrees 

 higher than that of the atmosphere. In forcing plants into 

 flower, the excitement should be as moderate as possible, 

 scarcely sensible at first, and increasing very gradually in pro- 

 portion to the top heat, which will be regulated by the state of 

 growth. 



Soil. — A few general remarks on this head will not be out of 

 place when so many different plants are concerned. In the 

 selection of loam (when a choice is offered) as far as colour can 

 be a guide, choose that which approaches yellow or brown in 

 preference to red, which contains a greater proportion of iron. 

 The next thing which should be examined is the quantity it con- 

 tains of clean sand, and consequently of fibre, selecting that 

 which contains the greatest quantity of turfy fibre without being 

 impoverished by the roots of trees. The advantage of the fibry 

 matter is in assisting to keep the soil in an open, pervious state, 

 and to secure a greater proportion of it, the turves should be 

 pared off not more than from 3 to 6 inches thick. It should be 

 cut in winter and turned with the grassy side downwards, to be 

 acted upon by the frost ; and all turf which cannot be so ex- 

 posed should be charred or baked, sufficiently to destroy both 

 animal and vegetable life. By the latter means the annoyance 

 of weeds is got rid of, and all plants that I have tried in charred 

 soil root much more freely in that than in the same uncharred. 

 Peat is a material which varies very much in quality, and in its 



