THE STOVE OK TEOPICAL PLANT HOUSE. 



715 



stove for its adornment ; the low uniform tem- 

 perature, and rather dry atmosphere, will be 

 very favourable for their longer continuance in 

 bloom. When the whole collection is placed 

 in their winter-quarters, care should be taken 

 that they be not set too close together; and here 

 we would recommend a general inspection to 

 take place, and that all sickly or uninteresting 

 plants be at once cast aside. It will not unfre- 

 quently happen that several specimens of the 

 same species may be in equally good health and 

 vigour ; it is better to throw away one of these 

 than that the others should be spoiled from want 

 of room. In regard to temperature during win- 

 ter, the occupants of our plant-stoves, in private 

 establishments in particular, are oftener injured 

 by too much heat than the reverse. Both Mr 

 Beaton and Mr Spencer, than whom no higher 

 authorities can be given, have shown that in a 

 temperature of from 40° to 50° by fire-heat 

 most of the popular stove-plants have not only 

 thriven well, but flowered profusely. 



Towards the end of January a general examina- 

 tion of the plants should take place, and all that 

 require potting, either with a view to obtain 

 larger size, or where the soil has become ex- 

 hausted, should be seen to. This is the advent 

 of their season of growth, and hence the proper 

 time to supply them with fresh food. To delay 

 this is dangerous, as the roots, when once they 

 have begun to grow, will, with all the care that 

 can be taken of them, be liable to be destroyed 

 during the operation. Indeed potting, in all 

 cases where a reduction of the ball has to be 

 made, should be performed before the roots 

 have begun to grow at all. Divide herbaceous 

 stove-plants, top such as require it, train and clean 

 every plant requiring that attention. Lay in a 

 stock of the various soils required, so that it 

 may be dry, warm, and ready for use when 

 wanted. Either use new, or, at all events, clean 

 pots, and let them be always dry before using. 

 Suppress insects by washing, fumigating, or sul- 

 phurating. Increase the amount of air as the 

 days lengthen, and progressively raise the tem- 

 perature also, as well as the humidity of the at- 

 mosphere, to meet the demands of the increasing 

 excitement in the plants. For a general collec- 

 tion in a private establishment, the temperature 

 should, when the plants begin to grow, be kept 

 first at from 55° to 65° during the day, allowing 

 a few degrees more during sunshine ; but the 

 night temperature may be kept 5° lower than 

 these points. A much higher temperature is 

 necessary in the case of collections containing 

 many of the plants of the torrid zone, and 

 which, to be cultivated in perfection, should be 

 accommodated with a structure for themselves. 

 As the season advances, and the amount of 

 light increases, the stimulants of additional heat, 

 moisture, &c, must be increased in due propor- 

 tion. Ixoras, Gardeneas, and similar hard- 

 wooded plants, would be better transferred to a 

 close pit, where a little more heat and a much 

 increased amount of humidity could be afforded 

 them, and where also a slight bottom-heat would 

 be of great advantage to them. Plants that are 

 sickly should have provided for them a similar 

 accommodation. The seeds of most tropical 



plants should be sown towards the end of Jan- 

 uary, and these should always be placed as 

 close to the glass as possible, yet so as to have 

 the advantage of a moderate bottom-heat, parti- 

 cularly those having hard and thick coverings. 



Spring and summer treatment of tropical plants. 

 — If the temperature has been regulated during 

 winter as already directed, the plants will by the 

 latter end of February be in excellent condition, 

 after their long repose, to shoot out into leaf, and 

 flower upon the return of spring. Undue ex- 

 citement must, however, be guarded against. 

 The sap must be allowed to rise slowly and 

 progressively, and to this end fire-heat must be 

 moderately employed. The influence of sun- 

 heat during fine days will bring about a state of 

 matters far more favourable to the health of the 

 plants than any degree of fire-heat that can be 

 applied, and therefore a rise of a few degrees 

 may be with advantage allowed during bright 

 days. Advantage also should be taken of this 

 for the admission of a greater amount of air 

 than has been given during their season of rest, 

 as this will have the effect of causing the buds 

 to swell boldly, and break into wood or flowers 

 with much greater vigour. A contrary course 

 at this time would be highly improper, and 

 would soon become manifest by the weakly state 

 of the plants, paucity of bloom, and increase of 

 insects. From the middle of February to the 

 middle of April the day temperature should rise 

 gradually, and range, towards the latter period, 

 from 60° to 70°, the night heat all the while 

 from 5° to 8° lower. More air and more water 

 at the roots will be required, increasing both as 

 vegetation proceeds ; and towards the end of 

 that period syringing should be occasionally ad- 

 ministered, and all the while a moderate humid 

 atmosphere maintained by sprinkling water on 

 the floor of the house. As during winter, so 

 now, the water for all purposes should be used 

 in a tepid state ; care should at the same time 

 be taken that too much water be not applied, as 

 the young rootlets are not yet in a state to 

 absorb it, nor do the awakening energies of the 

 plants require it. A general regulation of the 

 plants should take place as early in spring as 

 possible. All will require examination at their 

 roots, many will be in want of training, some of 

 pruning ; and in all cases where lean-to houses 

 are in use, every plant will be benefited by being 

 occasionally turned round, that its foliage may 

 be exposed to the light and sunshine. 



During this period potting should be attended 

 to ; indeed, every plant should be turned out of 

 its pot, that the state of the roots may be ascer- 

 tained. Some may not require shifting, and in 

 such cases they may be carefully returned again 

 to the pot. The great majority, however, will, 

 and this operation should be proceeded with 

 before the young roots have begun to extend 

 themselves. To facilitate this, a stock of soil 

 should be brought into the potting-house, into 

 which, if contiguous to the stove, the plants 

 should be taken, a few only at a time ; but when 

 this is otherwise, the potting had better be car- 

 ried on within the house, as it would be danger- 

 ous to expose the plants at this season to the 

 external atmosphere. Regarding soil, the great 



