1013 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



FEBRUARY. 



VENTILATION. 



The instructions given upon the subject of ventilation last 

 inontli arc applicable to the present also; but as the season will be 

 now advancing, and the sun gaining greater power, more liberal 

 ventilation should be from time to time given ; and, as some 

 of the plants will now be beginning to break or bud into shoots, 

 this is the more necessary, to give strength to these organs 

 while yet in their young state, to enable them to produce per- 

 fectly formed shoots and buds, without which neither handsome 

 nor healthy plants can be expected, and, consequently a mea- 

 gerness of flowers. 



TEMPERATURE. 



Much of what was said the preceding month regarding tem- 

 perature is applicable to the present one also ; but, as the sun 

 ■will be now more powerful during the day, less fire-heat will 

 be wanted during the night ; indeed, if slightly covering the 

 lower parts of the house, or those parts where the plants are 

 nearest to the glass with mats, will keep the frost out, it will be 

 better to dispense with fire-heat as much as possible. While 

 the frost is kept from appearing on the under side of the glass, 

 the temperature in the house may be reckoned as sufficient for 

 most of the plants within it. This was the criterion always 

 adopted by the late venerable Mr. James Lee, of the Hammer- 

 smith Nursery, a name so associated with plants, and so well 

 known and remembered throughout Europe, as to stand in 

 need of no praise from one of his numerous pupils, and may be 

 considered as a safe and simple rule to go by. 



WATERING. 



As some of the plants of the earliest habits will now be be- 

 ginning to spring, water may be given to them in rather larger 



