Even earlier than this, seed of Chinese Primrose and Cineraria should be sown. Plants for 
winter flowering should be kept in pots all summer, or plants in a proper state must be procured 
from some florist in the early fall. All buds 
should be taken from plants designed for winter 
flowering until about the middle of August. After 
that they may be allowed to grow that we may 
have early winter flowers. The later the buds 
are pinched off in the summer, the later will the 
plants be in coming into flower in the winter. 
This is especially the case with Carnations, Chry- 
santhemums, Bouvardias, Heliotropes, and simi- 
lar plants. Plants should be brought into the 
house and placed in position before the winter 
fires are made, that they may become " wonted" 
to their in-door life. 
Heat. — Most of our plants are injured by 
too much heat. For a general collection of 
house plants, it is not best to allow the thermom- 
eter to be above seventy, and if they could be 
kept in a room where the thermometer would 
usually not range much above sixty-five it would 
be the better. In the night time fifty is high 
enough. Give a little fresh air every fine day, 
and all the sunlight attainable. An effort should 
be made to give moisture to the atmosphere, for 
our own good as well as the health of the plants. This can be done in various ways by evapo- 
rating water ; but when plants are in a separate apartment, like a little green-house, it can be 
done more conveniently and effectually, although this separate apartment be only a bay window,' 
with glass doors, separating it from the living room. In this place water can be used freely, 
by syringing, &c., and a moist atmosphere preserved. The temperature, with this arrangement, 
can be kept lower than ^" 
would be comfortable in the 
living room, and the plants 
are saved from dust and 
many evils which we man- 
age to endure and live, but 
which' generally prove too 
much for the plants. 
Air' and Light. — Ev- 
ery one knows that a plant 
grown in the dark is weak 
and colorless ; and if it has 
plenty of light and little 
air, while it will have the 
natural color, it will be 
slender and sickly. The 
gardener, therefore, is care- 
ful to give his green-houses 
and hot-beds not only light, 
but air at every convenient 
opportunity. In winter, he 
hails a bright, sunny day with delight. Plants will suffer from a current of cold air just 
as their owner would, but both are benefited by an invigorating breath of fresh air. Provide, 
therefore, for air in some way, especially on pleasant days, and every day, unless the weather is 
too cold — when the mercuiy registers within lo deg. of zero. This can be done by opening 
23 
