1004 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Jan. 



of the leaves a coating of matter which in a short time stops 

 the pores of respiration, and, in consequence, the plants soon 

 die. To obviate this in a very great degree, repeated syringing 

 over the leaves, and sponging those that are large enough to 

 admit of the operation, will very much tend to remedy this 

 defect. Not that such a mode of culture will enable the citizen 

 to display so rich a profusion of plants permanently in his 

 green-house or conservatory as the cultivator who lives at a 

 greater distance from such an atmosphere; but we have no 

 hesitation to say, that such a treatment will enable him to pro- 

 long tlie period of their existence for a considerable length of 

 time ; and, with regard to some plants, they may be cultivated 

 with tolerable success as long as they remain fashionable, 



for fashion dictates even in the choice of plants." 



It may be necessary to observe, that such syringing or wash- 

 ing of plants ought to be performed in the early part of fine 

 days, and as soon as the operation is performed the house 

 should be ventilated to the fullest extent, to admit of the su- 

 perabundant moisture being dispelled ; and when the state of 

 the weather is such as to render this mode of drying the 

 atmosphere of the house impracticable, then recourse must be 

 had to fire-heat, but which should be very sparingly applied, 

 and sufficient ventilation given to admit of the moisture passing 

 off in vapour. The force also of the engine, in applying the 

 water, will supply, to a certain extent, the want of wind in 

 such structures, and which, according to the experiments of 

 Knight and others, appears indispensable to the majority of 

 plants. It may appear almost unnecessary to mention, that 

 rain or river water is always to be preferred to that from wells, 

 at least until the latter has been exposed for some time to the 

 action of the atmosphere. But, in this respect, London, as 

 well as most other cities, are abundantly provided with water ; 

 and cultivators, in all situations, can command that portion 

 which falls upon the area occupied with their house, and which 

 should be treasured up, if soft water be scarce, or not to 

 be had. 



