Feb.] 



GREEN-IIOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



1017 



be too powerful for them ; but for such as are originated at a 

 more advanced period of the year, we have invariably shaded 

 during the hottest hours of the day. When the plants are of suf- 

 ficient size to pot off, which they will be in the course of three 

 weeks after sowing, they are then potted into small sixties, one 

 plant in each pot ; the mould used being rather richer and 

 stronger than that into which the seeds were sown. When 

 potted off, they should be placed in a close frame, with a ge- 

 nial bottom heat, the atmosphere of which may stand at from 

 55 to GO degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer during the night, 

 and a few degrees of rise allowed during sun-shine. As the 

 season advances, shading from the full sun should be attended 

 to, and a moist genial steam kept up in the frame, which will be 

 obtained while the bottom heat is sufficient, by watering the 

 plants over head in the afternoon, and shutting up the frame 

 closely. Air must be regularly admitted to prevent the plants 

 from being drawn up too weak, particularly while the bottom 

 heat is strong. Occasional applications of liquid manure should 

 be given them once a week, but care must be taken in the ap- 

 plication that none of it fall on the leaves of the plants. 



With good success, in four months the plants will be from 

 eighteen inches to two feet in height, and may be immediately 

 operated upon by grafting, or shifted into larger pots, and kept 

 in a moist mild heat till autumn, when they may be gradually 

 hardened and placed in the green-house or orange-house till 

 wanted for stocks. When strong stocks are, however, desired, 

 and when trees with tall stems are the object in view, they 

 may, early in the following spring, be placed in a moist bottom 

 heat, and cultivated for another season, as already directed, 

 taking care that the leading shoot be not injured, nor any 

 superfluous side shoots allowed to remain on thorn. By the 

 second July after sowing they will be in good condition 

 for budding. When stocks are used the first season of their 

 growth, we have succeeded by grafting them, when about the 

 thickness of a quill, in the following manner : — Young shoots 

 of a favorite variety are selected, being rather smaller than the 

 stock, and about four or six inches in length. The stocks are 

 prepared for them by taking a thin slice off one side (at about half 

 their height,) just merely to remove a very small portion of the 



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