32 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



those that arc hardiest, as noticed above, may be taken out. 

 In regard to some of the inmates of the dry-stove or succulent- 

 house, the case is otherwise, many of them are found to do 

 better and to flower much freer when set out during summer. 

 'I'his is particularly illustrated in the case of some of the Cac- 

 tuscs, which seldom flower, if not exposed either to the tem- 

 perature of the green-house or open air for a considerable 

 period of the summer. When the plants are so set out, an 

 opportunity will be afforded of cleaning such as are infected 

 with insects ; and, for this purpose, the practice of Gushing 

 may be adopted. " When the plants are set out in summer,'' 

 says that author, " every part of the house should be well 

 wasiied with strong soap lees, in which a little of the same 

 t()])acco as is used for fumi^jating has been infused, in particular 

 all the joints of the wood work, and also whatever nail-holes, or 

 other crevices, may haj)pen to be therein ; as, in those places, 

 some of the species, more especially the white mealy bug, is 

 nmch inclined to secrete itself for breeding. 



AUTUMNAL TREATMENT OF TROPICAL PLANTS. — 

 TEMPERATURE. 



Towards the end of September, or beginnnig of October, the 

 evenings will begin to get cold, and, in order tliat the stove 

 plants may not experience any check at this time, when most 

 of them are in full foliage, it will be necessary to resume the 

 use of fire-heat. This may be commenced with by only light- 

 ing the fires in the evening, and thereby merely warming the 

 flues, which will difiuse a mildness through the house, which, 

 in damp weather, will, in particular, be of much importance to 

 them. 



To have tropical plants look well, the period of winter should 

 be shortened as much as possible by artificial means, and this 

 can only be attained by lengthening out the autumn, as it were, 

 by an application of fire-heat, when that from the sun becomes 

 insufficient; and again, by bringing on spring at an early 

 period by the like means. Tropical plants, in general, sustain 

 more injury from allowing them to be checked in growth at this 



