1014 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Feb, 



this season. Greeu-house and conservatory plants, like all others 

 confined within the limits of a close atmosphere naturally (even 

 under the best management) become drawn, as it is technically 

 termed, that is, naked of branches near their bottoms, and often 

 become sickly and diseased ; such, therefore, should be headed 

 or cut down to a proper height, making choice to cut at such 

 parts of the stem or stronger branches as are most likely to 

 l)roduce young shoots wherewith to form the future habit of the 

 plant. Many plants, with a little management, may be re- 

 modelled, as it were, by this means, even after having become 

 very unsightly ; and, as far as regards conservatory plants per- 

 manently planted out, is the only method of keeping them in pro- 

 per form. But, in regard to green-house plants, properly speak- 

 ing, as they are seldom required to be of large size, a more eli- 

 gible practice will be found in annually propagating and keep- 

 ing up a young stock, so that when any of the plants become 

 sickly, or are drawn up weak, or otherwise deformed, they 

 should be thrown away to make room for young plants propa- 

 gated the preceding season either from seeds, cuttings, or 

 other means. Many families of plants are thus cultivated only 

 for one season or two, and then thrown away ; and by such ma- 

 nagement only a healthy and handsome green-house collection 

 can be expected. When green-house plants are headed down, 

 it is, in most cases, necessary at the same time to shift them 

 also ; and, at this early season, those so headed down should 

 be placed in a moderate heat for a fortnight or three weeks to 

 excite them to break stronger and more regularly into shoots. 

 Care, however, must be taken that they be not placed in too 

 high a temperature, for that would defeat the end in view. 

 Conservatory plants require gi'eat attention, as far as regards 

 pruning and training, and this is a very proper season for this 

 operation. Pruning of such plants depends upon so many cir- 

 cumstances, that no fixed rules can be laid down ; it may, how- 

 ever, be premised, that, as abundance of blossom is desirable, 

 attention should be paid to produce a flowering disposition, as 

 far as can be attained. The natural character or habit of such 

 plants is also a desirable point to be attained in their manage- 

 ment, and it is, therefore, one which the cultivator should 

 study carefidly. All dead or ill-placed shoots should be re- 



