PETER HENDERSON & CO.— INTRODUCTORY. 



Treatment of Plants When Ee^vei^^fa-ff^^^th 



the season when thev can he planted out doors, the ground should be first well dug up and pulverized ; the plants 

 when set out should be well firmed about the root, copiously watered once only when planted, shaded for two or 

 three days when the sun is out ; no further watering should be done, but a mulch of moss, manure, or leaves 

 around the roots would be beneficial. When received (by mail) at a season when they cannot be put out, they 

 should be placed at first in as small pots as possible, sparingly watered until they show signs of new growth. If 

 bv express the plants are usually in such condition as to require a size larger pot than they have been growing in. 



QJp"j"] Is not of so much importance as is usually supposed. When practicable, about three parts rotted sod 

 tJ'-'ll from any good pasture land is best, to one part rotted manure, but when that cannot readily be obtained, 

 the soil immediately underneath the sod, mixed with manure will answer. 



T\-po 1TIQ 0"P — When plants are first potted, or are cramped in small pots, there is no necessity for drainage ; 

 -L'J- fljAALGugj O t but as the practice with amateurs is almost universal to overpot plants, as a measure of safety, 

 from one to two inches of broken charcoal or potshreds should be placed in the bo' torn of all pots over six inches 

 in diameter, and what is even of more importance than this " crocking," so-called, is to have the plants set on a 

 rough surface of gravel or fine cinders, so that a free escape of water can take place. 



ITrinn IVflll pTllT10' — ^' s ' s a new P ract ' ce we began in 1880. It consists in mixing the common moss 

 1'IUOO ILL lilt' llllLgi f the swamps or woods with about one-twentieth of its bulk of bone dust. This is 

 placed to the thickness of an inch or two on the top of the pot. Plants so treated quickly show surprising health 

 and vigor. It cannot be too highly recommended, whether for the humble amateur growing a few window plants, 

 the gardener with his full appointed greenhouses, or the florist who grows to sell — to one and all we advise it, as 

 it not only lessens labor, saving a re-potting of plants frequently for twelve months, but the vigor of growth and 

 productiveness of flower and coloring of foliage is perfectly astonishing. The Moss Mulching process should only 

 be done in summer. If used in winter there is danger of the plants getting too damp. 



Tyicipp-j-Q — The insects that infest Greenhouse Plants are principally the Aphis or green fly, the Thrip, the 

 J-liioCU UOi R e( j Spider and Mealy Bug, Tobacco, either in the form of snuff or in solution — about the color 

 of strong tea — or by smoke, by burning the refuse stems, in either way is quickly fatal to the green fly, and will 

 check in part, the thrip. Either of the two first methods is most suitable for plants in rooms, but in the green- 

 house the smoke is most convenient, using about one pound of the stems to every 1,000 square feet of glass, once 

 a week or oftener. For Red Spider and Mealy Bug, Coles' Insect Destroyer put on with a barber's atomizer, is a 

 certain remedy ; or they may be sponged off with weak soapsuds. 



TVril flP"W — ^ e g reat sc ourge of Roses undei glass is easily checked by painting the hot water pipes with a 

 1'lllU.O W • -wash of Sulphur once in two weeks ; or when not firing, use the Mildew Mixture. [See Index.] 



TTdQT TlCrVlT A IP Q T\ f\ TVTfll QTll TP — The temperature of most plants in the winter season 

 11CCIU, JJlgllU) i-,11 CU1U. ILLUlOULLlO. ar night should not exceed 55 , and it will do no harm 

 if it occasionally falls to 45° with from 15° to 2o c higher in daytime. LIGHT should be given whenever it can, 

 directly on the plants from December to April if it cannot, as in Window culture, the next best thing to do is to 

 turn the plants occasionally, so they get equal share on all sides. AIR, or VENTILATION is guided by tempera- 

 ture to be kept, but should never be given so as to blow directly on the plants. MOISTURE — Plants should 

 never be watered unless the soil indicates by its lightness of color that it is dry, and then they should be watered 

 freely. This will be necessary two or three times a week in clear weather in winter ; in spring or summer, nearly 

 every day. If a plant is sickly, or shows but little sign of growth, the remedy is to withold water, almost to the 

 point of shriveling, until it shows indications of growth. Avoid all fertilizers in such cases, and let Nature work 

 out her own cure. 



STin^lUC Trip (rlfl^ — The best shading we have ever used is naphtha, mixed with a little white 

 kJliOiUlllg UlLO UIOjOO. lead, so as to give it the appearance of thin milk. This can be put on the 

 glass with a syringe, very quickly, at a cost not exceeding 25 cts. per 1,000 square feet. It holds on the entire 

 season until loosened by the fall frosts, which is, for most plants, just the time required to be taken off. 



Film tlie SOil abOUt the U00tS.-[SeeUseof the feetin Sowing and Planting, page 6] 



TTTq-J-p-n — If practicable, give plants one good soaking after planting in the open ground, which will be all 

 VV CvUG.L« they will require, unless in the case of long continued dry weather, when, if again necessary, the 

 watering must be thorough — sprinkling is of little or no use. 



TTnW tfl SPTlfl IVrnTIPTr - Remittances shoulcl be made either by Draft, Post Office Order, or 

 J.J.U W UU UOILU 1U.UJ.10J , Registered Letter ; but in no case should bills be sent in a letter, unless 

 registered. Nearly all loss of letters is in those unregistered containing bills. 



PETER HENDERSON & CO., 



35 & 37 CORTLANDT STREET, 



Peter Henderson, ) 



James Reid, f »_—,_w.. ______ 



Alfred Henderson, f WE lV YORK. 



Charles Henderson. ) 



